Checking in and keeping up with our friends is an important part of maintaining relationships. During the pandemic, technology stepped in where face-to-face interactions weren’t possible.
Social relationships are generally good for mental health, but too much social activity can backfire, leading to fatigue and feelings of guilt when there isn’t enough time to nurture relationships.
Masks hide just part of how you communicate.
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A recent Pew survey showed just how deep the divide has become, with about 40% of registered voters saying that they didn’t have a single close friend supporting a different presidential candidate.
Too much time screen time can lead to lower self-esteem.
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It’s worth going out of your way to ensure that kids practice interacting with others and maintain their friendships.
Quaranteams offer a way to limit the risk of infection while also maintaining social contacts and mental health.
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People are turning to quarantine bubbles as a way to see friends and family while limiting the risk from the coronavirus. Research shows that this can work, but it’s not easy to be in a quaranteam.
A new social world for children may be right outside their front door.
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Together the social and emotional ‘jobs’ of adolescence – developing intimate friendships and achieving autonomy – make teens uniquely resistant to calls for social distancing.
Men seem more hesitant about both making friends and celebrating their friendships.
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If you suspect your child – whether they are in early childhood education and care, primary or secondary school – has a questionable friend, here are some tips on how to deal with it.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stressful life events. Teenagers with at least one close friend and strong family relationships are more resilient than teens without such relationships.
We know being nice is good for friendships. But we wanted to find out why some antisocial people are socially successful. So we looked at whether rebels had more friends in high school than nice kids.
How do you feel about Facebook?
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Facebook users no longer see the site as a confidant. They’re struggling with how to deal with a messy codependence – and whether to just break up and move on with healthier friends.
Parental role-modelling, encouragement and seeking support from the school can help make the awkward bits of making friends as a teen easier.
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Navigating friendships as a teen can be hard. Parents can help by modelling good behaviour and making sure their teen feels they can talk to them about their friendships.
Good friendships translate to higher achievement at school.
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