Social connection improves physical health and mental and emotional well-being.
We all think we know how to take good care of ourselves: eat your veggies, work out and try to get enough sleep. But how many of us know that social connection is just as critical?
One landmark study showed that lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure.
On the other hand, strong social connection:
- leads to a 50% increased chance of longevity
- strengthens your immune system (research by Steve Cole shows that genes impacted by loneliness also code for immune function and inflammation)
- helps you recover from disease faster
- may even lengthen your life!
People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression. Moreover, studies show they also have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, are more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them. In other words, social connectedness generates a positive feedback loop of social, emotional and physical well-being.
Unfotunately, the opposite is also true for those who lack social connectedness. Low levels of social connection are associated with declines in physical and psychological health as well as a higher likelihood for antisocial behavior that leads to further isolation.
Feel lonely?
Research unfortunately shows that loneliness is on the rise. Despite its clear importance for health and survival, research shows that social connectedness is waning at an alarming rate in the US. A revealing sociological study showed that the modal number of close others (i.e., people with whom one feels comfortable sharing a personal problem) Americans claimed to have in 1985 was only three. In 2004 it dropped to zero, with over 25% of Americans saying that they have no one to confide in. This survey suggests that one in four people that we meet may have no one they call a close friend!
This decline in social connectedness may explain reported increases in loneliness, isolation, and alienation and may be why research is finding that loneliness represents one of the leading reasons people seek psychological counseling.
People low in social connection are more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, antisocial behavior, and even suicidal behaviors which tend to further increase their isolation. Most poignantly, a landmark survey showed that lack of social connectedness predicts vulnerability to disease and death beyond traditional risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure, and physical activity! Eat your greens and exercise, yes, but don’t forget to connect.
Feel like you may be low on social connection?
Fear not! The good news is that social connection has more to do with your subjective feeling of connection than your number of friends. You could have 1,000 friends and still feel low in connection (thus the expression loneliness in a crowd) but you could also have no close friends or relatives but still feel very connected from within.
Learn more in my infographic below!
Watch my TEDx talk to get all the details on the science.
Your turn.
What are your favorite ways of increasing your feelings of connectedness?
Want to understand the cool science studies behind this infographic?
Watch my TEDX talk here on “The Power & Science of Social Connection”:
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14 comments
Hey there! This post could not be written any better!
Reading through this post reminds me of my good old room mate!
He always kept talking about this. I will forward
this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read.
Thanks for sharing!
Please add me to your email list. Interested in your philosophy and ideas.. Thanks. BH
Is there a way I could order or obtain copies of your infographics? I could really use the one on the science of connection with my substance use disorder groups.
Thank you,
Susan
Yes, I am giving them out to anyone who preorders my book so ping me if/when you do emma@emmaseppala.com
Favorite ways of increasing my feelings of connectedness.
1. Joining my group at the hospitality house as a group involvement project to venture to city hall and question about current issues concerning residence of district 6 of the Tenderloin, here in San Francisco.
2. Speaking up at team meeting of the healthy cooking group with suggestions for group involvements within our community.
3. Volunteering to take on duties at a site that the healthy cooking group is doing food demostrations.
Thank you so much! You covered ideas/concepts that I have always believed to be true! I loved hearing the supporting data, but you never went too deep for a general audience. I loved it!
Something that my mother taught me was to give other women a pick-me-up, ESPECIALLY, if they looked like they could use one. (I’m not saying that men don’t need a pick-me-up, too, but you don’t want them to think that you’re trying to “pick-them-up.” (Not the point, of THIS exercise, anyway.)
1) Spot someone you don’t know, for instance, someone who you are standing in line with at the grocery checkout, whose blouse, smile, outfit, hair, etc., you admire. (DO NOT STARE. IF YOU GOOF AND ARE CAUGHT, MOVE THINGS ALONG!)
2) Make eye contact and smile!
3) Give that person a compliment that you SINCERELY mean. Something like, how much you love their blouse and how lovely they look in it, what a great smile they have, what a super outfit they have on, how beautiful their hair is, etc.
It’s not about commercialism, fashion, etc. It’s about spreading a little happiness and making someone feel good.
Just watched your TEDx video. Terrific message of HOPE embedded in the science. Really enjoyed it!
would like to show it to High school students who mentor middle schoolers next week at a workshop I’m doing in Indiana. Is this public domain? Thanks.
CS
Sure thing!
i like to smile at people I don’t know , say “good morning,” and strike up conversations with people in cafes, on the or bus or train, or whilst walking my dog. It can be difficult to do if you’re in a low mood but always makes me feel much happier when I try it!
Just watched your video this truly resonated with me. I have worked with many people over the years in the benefits agency in the UK, I also volunteer as a samaritan (service for suicidal people) What you say is so true. It’s great to see that science is researching this essential aspect of life. Compassion is so important for our happiness and well being. I look forward to reading more of your work.
I believe that everyone that believes social connection is a good thing: 1) didn’t grow up in a large family (give me space PLEASE!) 2) Isn’t around aggressive unpredictable people (nothing relaxing about that)
I enjoy my time to myself more often than I enjoy time with others. AND there is NOTHING wrong with that!!!!
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