Taylor Swift might be onto something more than simply instilling envy in the hearts of any human who looks upon her and her near-perfect girl gang and inspiring what many people have come to call “#squadgoals.”
According to a recent study, not having a close group of friends in your 20s and 30s can actually be worse for you than drinking excessively or suffering from obesity. Researchers found that people who had few or no friends in early adulthood had an “increased risk for early mortality” — one that paralleled the risk for mortality found in smokers. Additionally, quantity of friends was more important for preventing early mortality for adults in their 20s, where the quality of friendships took precedent for adults in their 30s.
So get out there and #squadgoal it up. Science wants you to.