Social interaction with family and friends is an integral part of mental and physical health. One of the most severe forms of punishment is to completely isolate a person. We've all heard the poem, "No man is an island." Everyone needs contact, encouragement, support, love, and interaction with others to be happy and well balanced. If social interaction is neglected, the health suffers. Research shows that social support and interaction affect:
- How well people cope with stress in life
- How happy and content, or depressed or lonely, people are
- The body's immune system and survivability when faced with crises or serious illness
Social support is even a predictor of how long people live.
In the Good Health Practices study, approximately 6,000 people were studied for more than nine years. The researchers discovered that people who had poor social networks and support were two to three times more likely to die (2.3 times for men, 2.8 times for women) during the study than those with strong social support systems.
This is an amazing increase in mortality. And surprisingly, a poor social network is not too different from smoking or a low level of physical activity as predictors of a person’s longevity.
There were 4 social factors in this study that were linked to longevity:
- Being married
- Frequent contact with family and close friend
- Active member of a church
- Active participation in a club or other social group
Similarly, a study in Sweden, that followed 17,000 healthy men and women for six years, found that people who were most isolated and lonely (with low social contact) had nearly four times the risk of dying during the study than those who had strong social contact and support. Other studies have shown that people with strong social support are more likely to survive surgery, a heart attack, or other serious illnesses. Here are some questions for you to consider to see if you have adequate social support in your life.
|
There are 10 possible points. You receive one point for each false response to questions 1 through 5, and one point for each true response to questions 6 through 10. The higher the score, the stronger your social support network and generally the happier you'll be.
|
|
Evaluation
|
|
|
8-10
|
Indicates a strong social support system – a positive health trait.
|
|
|
6+
|
Indicates you probably have adequate social support to protect your health.
|
|
|
5
|
Take note: You would likely benefit from improved social contact.
|
|
|
4
|
A score of four or lower indicates that you definitely need to reach out. Get help from a counselor or your pastor if needed to help you improve this aspect of your life. If social intimacy isn't your strong point, join a caring group that you can associate with and do things with.
|
Making Improvement. Consider these practical suggestions for improving social health and possibly your life expectancy:
- Invest in friendships. Take time to meet new people, and renew old friendships. Stay in contact, meet often, and do things together. It will enrich your social and emotional life.
- Keep in close contact with family. Life is short. Staying in touch, visiting, and doing things together will bring some of the greatest joys to your life and to the lives of others.
- Invest in your marriage. Or if you’re unmarried, develop a close confident – one with whom you can share your most private fears and worries, your successes and joys, and with whom you can give and receive love.
- Join a group. Community, church, and social organizations are great avenues for meeting new people and developing caring friends.
- Volunteer. Many social organizations need volunteers. It's an excellent way to help other people while finding social outlets for you. Be a Big Brother or Big Sister to a young person in need of a mentor.
- Look for social opportunities (or create them): Invite people over or out to dinner, watch a movie together, go biking or hiking together, join the choir, take a class, or look for someone else who needs a friend or help.
For optimal social and mental health, interact with other people. Don't isolate yourself. People are always more important than things. Time spent with family and friends can bring you the greatest joys in life and help you enjoy a long and fulfilling life.
|
Love and intimacy have a powerful affect on our health.
Social support and interaction are as powerful in improving health and longevity
as are not smoking, exercising, and eating healthfully.
Dean Ornish, MD
|
|
