UNFPA: 17% of young people in North Macedonia say a large circle of friends is “very important”

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) survey finds that 17 percent of young people in North Macedonia say having a large network of friends is "very important."

The regional comparison in the study shows variation: 36 percent of young people in Georgia describe a wide circle of friends as very important; 24 percent in Azerbaijan; 12 percent in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 12 percent in Kazakhstan; 19 percent in Kosovo; 22 percent in Kyrgyzstan; 18 percent in Moldova; 16 percent in Serbia; only 9 percent in Ukraine; and 28 percent in Uzbekistan.

Why friendships affect mental health

Suzana Lazarova-Eftimova, a gestalt therapist, says that social ties have a clear effect on psychological well‑being. She explains: "A basic human need is to feel connected to others. When we have someone with whom we can share what happens to us or simply spend time together, we feel we are not alone. Close relationships give us a sense of belonging and security, and that matters a lot for mental health. Sometimes an honest conversation can ease our day. The number of friends is not a measure of how socially active we are. Each person has different needs for socialization, so the most important thing is to have friends with whom we feel fulfilled."

On age and social ties, Lazarova-Eftimova adds: "For teenagers, friendships are very important because through them they build a sense of belonging, acceptance and personal identity. At that stage peers' opinions carry great weight. In the third and fourth decades people have more obligations and less free time, but relationships can be more stable and deeper. So it is not that the need for friendship disappears; rather the way we connect with others changes."

The UNFPA findings echo other research indicating that having two to four close friends can protect against loneliness, depression and stress. Studies also suggest that people with strong friendships recover more quickly after traumatic events.

Photo: press material from the event