Community connections are a vital component of a person’s life and well-being. Research shows healthy, varied social ties improve mental health and health behaviors. They also reduce mortality risk.
But strained and conflicted ties can undermine health, too. Studies show that negative health behaviors “catch” and spread throughout networks.
Table of Contents
Family
Research has shown that social ties, quantity, and quality affect health behaviors, mental health, physical health, and mortality risk. Sociologists have been instrumental in establishing this connection and discovering explanations for it. A policy focus on relationships could be a cost-effective way to enhance population health.
Strong family bonds are associated with healthy behaviors, including regular exercise and eating well. Those with few close social ties are at increased risk of poor health. Some studies suggest that social isolation is more damaging to health than cigarette smoking or obesity. In addition, a lack of connections may be especially troublesome for 2SLGBTQ+ people who are rejected by their families or face discrimination and violence. These people often find support through chosen families that include their peers, such as those found in sports teams or religious organizations. Moreover, relationship/health linkages and explanatory mechanisms differ across the life course: parents have a more significant influence on children’s health, peers play a more important role in adolescence, intimate partners become more critical in adulthood, and friends take on increasing importance in later life.
Friends
Research has found that people with a wider variety of relationships experience greater mental and emotional well-being and have a more robust immune system, which may lead to more resistance to disease. Social ties are also linked to health-related behaviors, such as smoking cessation and healthy eating. People with more robust, supportive friendships are happier and live longer.
Forming solid and healthy relationships takes time and effort. But it is worth the investment and one of the Social Determinants of Health factors. If you feel your circle of friends has narrowed during the pandemic, look for new ways to connect with others. Try joining a local sports team or choir, finding a group that shares your interests, or volunteering at a community organization. Face-to-face contact is best, but video chat or phone calls can help, too. Avoid harmful or unhealthy relationships, such as those with risk-taking peers who influence alcohol consumption or friends who encourage unhealthy diets. These can have unintended consequences on your health.
Co-workers
A great co-worker knows when you’re frazzled and hands over a beverage or runs some errands. They can also offer helpful insight into a tricky project, making it clear they are on your team. They are willing to speak plainly but are fearless in calling out dishonesty or a big waste of time.
Researchers have discovered that social ties SDoh influence health behavior in several ways, including behavioral, psychosocial, and physiological pathways. Moreover, some of these relationships appear to spread through networks: A study found that an individual’s behavior — whether exercise, diet, or adherence to medical regimens — influences the health of their entire social network.
Invest in your community and find people who share your interests. Attending a local event, joining a sports team or club, or volunteering at a religious organization can help you connect with others and add more meaning to your life.
Community
Researchers have found that involvement in a community—being part of a sports team, choir, or group of like-minded people—helps to maintain emotional health and social connectedness. It also promotes a sense of purpose and meaning in life.
While many factors affect health, research reveals that the quality of relationships and their impact on behavior are unique among all influences. A focus on relationship/health linkages has implications for policy and programs, such as those that address healthy behaviors, based on the premise that health-related attitudes and behaviors spread like contagion through networks.
Recent studies have uncovered consistent and compelling evidence that links a low quantity and quality of social ties to several medical conditions, including the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, recurrent heart attacks, autonomic dysregulation, high blood pressure, cancer, slowed wound healing, and psychological distress. They also appear to predict mortality. This is especially true for those in minority populations.