Brain and molecular mechanisms underlying the nonlinear association between close friendships, mental health, and cognition in children.

ABSTRACT: Close friendships are important for mental health and cognition in late childhood. However, whether the more close friends the better, and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unknown. Using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Developmental study, we identified nonlinear associations between the number of close friends, mental health, cognition, and brain structure. Although few close friends were associated with poor mental health, low cognitive functions, and small areas of the social brain (e.g., the orbitofrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, the anterior insula, and the temporoparietal junction), increasing the number of close friends beyond a level (around 5) was no longer associated with better mental health and larger cortical areas, and was even related to lower cogni

SUBMITTER: Shen C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10317501 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature