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The BMC Geriatrics journal defines social connectedness as "a positive subjective evaluation of the extent to which one has meaningful, close, and constructive relationships with other individuals, groups, or society indicated by: (1) feelings of caring about others and feeling cared about by others, such as love, companionship or affection and (2) feeling of belonging to a group or community." The authors go on to say that a lack of social connections may lead to loneliness and "reduced health and well-being, including poor life satisfaction, depression, low self-esteem, reduced hope, negative affect, and impaired function in activities of daily living."[1]
Social connectivity has been linked to mortality via a variety of mechanisms, including psychological, behavioral, and biological aspects. A meta-analysis of 148 independent research discovered that people's experiences in social interactions significantly predict mortality, with a 50% increase in the probability of surviving as a result of social ties[2]. Multidimensional assessments of social integration revealed an even stronger link, with a 91% increase in survival probabilities. Social isolation has been linked to a significantly higher risk of early death from any cause, and the lack of social interaction is an independent risk factor for premature death[3].
Social Connectedness for Health and Disease Management
Participating in diverse social activities can reduce a person's mortality risk via a variety of physiological and psychological mechanisms. Social connectedness and social interactions may be effective for the following:
An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that social prescribing could help patients with medical conditions that are influenced by social circumstances.[12]
The following are some suggested patient education strategies to improve social connectedness for a patient’s health and well-being:
Attend local sports events, music performances, or art and museum exhibits
Cooking TogetherConnect with family and friends locally or through Zoom
Create or join a lunchtime walking or tai chi club at work
Engage in conventional group exercises such as softball, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, or tennis
Engage in mind body exercises such as yoga, tai chi, or Pilates
Enroll in art-based community activities such pottery, music, art, poetry, writing, or drama classes
Go to a farmer’s market for grocery shopping
Join or create a community garden club
Join a gym or fitness centre
Join self-help groups
Join social media platforms such as Facebook or meetup.com
Play with your pets
GardeningTake classes, such as cooking, dancing, or creative writing, at a local college or community college
↑Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLoS Med. 2010 Jul 27;7(7):e1000316. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316. PMID: 20668659; PMCID: PMC2910600.
↑Holt-Lunstad J. Social Connection as a Public Health Issue: The Evidence and a Systemic Framework for Prioritizing the "Social" in Social Determinants of Health. Annu Rev Public Health. 2022 Apr 5;43:193-213. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052020-110732. Epub 2022 Jan 12. PMID: 35021021.
