Stress affects up to 90 percent of people, and we know it harms our mental and physical well-being. For example, stress can impact the activity and function of our genes. It does this via “epigenetic” changes, which turn on and off certain genes, though it doesn’t change the DNA code. But why do some people respond worse to stress, while others seem to cope under pressure? Previous research has identified having strong social support and a sense of belonging are robust indicators of physical and mental health. Social support means having a network you can turn to in times of need. This can come from natural sources such as family, friends, partners, pets, co-workers, and community groups. Or from formal sources such as mental health specialists. My new study, published Nov. 19 in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, shows for the first time that these positive effects are also observed on human genes. Having …