Like family, you can’t necessarily pick your co-workers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a big impact on your life.
In fact, new research indicates your relationship with your co-workers may even affect your risk of mortality. A study published by the American Psychological Association found that people who have a good peer support system at work tend to live longer than people who don’t have such a support system.
Tel Aviv University researchers followed 820 adults for 20 years from 1988 to 2008. The adults came from all fields of employment and worked an average of 8.8 hours a day. Researchers collected medical records from the participants and administered surveys that measured job demands, control at work and peer and supervisor support.
The link between co-worker support and decreased mortality risk was most pronounced among those between the ages of 38 and 43. Interestingly, similar support from a supervisor showed no effect on mortality.
“Peer social support, which could represent how well a participant is socially integrated in his or her employment context, is a potent predictor of the risk of all causes of mortality,” the researchers wrote in a press release.
In addition, men who felt like they had control and decision authority at work also showed signs of this “protective effect”. The same did not hold true for women.
The study was published in the journal Health Psychology.
