On the International Day of Friendship, celebrated every July 30, scientific evidence reminds us that friendship is not only a human value but also one of the factors with the greatest impact on well-being, health, and learning. This celebration is also an opportunity to reflect on how we can foster high-quality friendships from early childhood.
What truly makes a person happy throughout life? The well-known Harvard longitudinal study, which has followed several generations of participants for more than 85 years, concludes that friendships and positive relationships are the strongest predictors of a healthier and happier life. People who maintain close, trusting relationships not only experience greater emotional well-being but also show better physical and mental health outcomes over time.
However, the value of friendship extends far beyond personal well-being. Educational research has also shown that peer relationships play a fundamental role in learning. The study Learning in Friendship Groups: Developing Students’ Conceptual Understanding Through Social Interaction demonstrates that friendships provide a privileged context for knowledge construction. Through dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, students develop a deeper understanding of concepts, turning social relationships into a powerful driver of learning.
Scientific evidence also makes it clear that it is not the number of friends that makes the difference, but the quality of those relationships. Numerous studies indicate that having deep, trusting friendships can buffer the negative consequences experienced by victims of school bullying. By contrast, having a large number of superficial friendships does not provide the same level of protection. For this reason, there is growing consensus on the importance of promoting, from the earliest stages of education, interventions that encourage friendships based on solidarity and mutual support.
One example of an educational action grounded in scientific evidence with proven social impact is the Zero Violence Brave Club (ZVBC), an initiative that encourages children to choose and defend courageous behaviours that support victims while valuing friendship. Research has shown that this initiative contributes to preventing violence, strengthening supportive relationships, and fostering the development of high-quality friendships.
On this International Day of Friendship, the best way to celebrate is by investing in relationships that help us grow, learn, and live better. Nurturing high-quality friendships from childhood not only improves our lives today but also represents one of the most valuable investments we can make in building a healthier, more inclusive, and violence-free society.
Primary Education Teacher.
Currently working on his doctoral thesis at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV).