Staying close to friends takes work, but research says it pays off.

Making the effort to keep friendships can improve well-being, lower depression and loneliness, reduce anxiety and even "increase our chances of survival after things like major surgery," said Jessica D. Ayers, an assistant professor of psychological science at Boise State University, CNBC reported. She studies the science of friendship.

The benefit goes both ways, Ayers said, especially in "long-lasting and sustained relationships."

Many Americans are struggling with connection. Eight percent say they have no close friends, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey of about 5,000 adults cited by CNBC. An American Psychiatric Association poll found many people turn to their devices instead of each other.

Friends can drift apart for many reasons, Ayers said. Some are classic, like moving for a new job or being in different stages of life. Others are newer, like following each other on social media and forgetting to actually keep in touch.

Some businesses now offer adult summer camps or friendship coaches to help people make friends, which can cost thousands of dollars, CNBC said.

Reaching out to old friends can feel awkward, but it may help ease loneliness, researchers wrote in The Conversation. People tend to underestimate how much others appreciate hearing from them.

Simple habits can help: schedule regular calls or meetups, send a quick message when something reminds you of a friend, and show up for important moments.

The CNBC writer said her own friends now ask her for tips.

What we know: research links regular contact with friends to better well-being.
What we don't: how much any one habit helps a given person.