While we know that diet and exercise play an important role in our physical wellbeing, new research is showing that our social life has a tangible effect as well. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Renmin University in China conducted a study examining the association between a participant’s physical measurements and the quality of their social relationships. The possible link they found? Stress.

One of the professors who led the study noted that good social relationships reduce the daily stresses of life. So, cultivating good relationships are one more preventive measure we can take. If you’re a teen or senior it’s good to have a large social group and if you fall in the middle, you’ll opt for smaller close relationships. In the end, however, everyone can do themselves good by cutting down on relationships that cause strain and choosing ones that bring fulfillment.