Hold Onto Me: The Importance of Social Connection
- Jun 29, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2023
Google the word "Connection" and choose "Images", and you will get handfuls of pictures related to computers, and technology. The "connections" we get obsessed with on a daily basis have to do with the speed of our internet and how many bars we have at any given time. But the connections that are actually the most crucial to our health have nothing to do with technology. They are related to feelings of connectedness to those around us. And these connections are much more important to our health than you might think.
Along the same lines, ask 100 people on the street what the primary factors are which are related to good health and longevity. I am certain you will hear responses such as : "exercise", "healthy body weight", and "good nutrition". And while these are all very important health predictors, they are actually not the most important factors associated with longevity. Believe it or not, current research has shown that the #1 and #2 most important factors associated with a long life have to do with social connectedness!
Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of California, San Francisco analyzed information from 8,250 adults aged 65 and older. 22% of those studied had died within four years of initial contact and interviews. In analyzing the data from this group, they were able to identify 8 predictors which were associated with early death. Five of the eight factors had to do with social connectedness: meeting with children less than yearly, not active with children, not volunteering, feeling isolated, and being treated with less courtesy or respect.
Check out this Ted talk by Susan Pinker about the importance of social connectedness. She refers to research carried out by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University. Dr. Holt-Lunstad found that while lifestyle factors such as exercising, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight were important, they ranked far below the two most important factors associated with living a long life: social bonds and “community integration”. Her research showed that healthy social bonds (having at least 3 individuals in your life that you feel connected to in an intimate, meaningful way), and high levels of "community integration" (being connected in a less intimate way to many individuals in one's community--ie; talking to the individual who brings the mail or serves coffee, or working alongside the same people as a volunteer) were the two most predictive factors associated with longevity!
Countless recent research studies have confirmed the importance of the human gut microbiota in respect to our overall health and living a long life. The gut microbiome consists of 100's of trillions of bacteria that live in our gut and on which we rely in order to survive. The gut microbiome is impacted by exercise, and nutrition, and sleep and stress. And, believe it or not, our gut (and immune system) is also healthier when we have strong social connections in our lives! The below linked study from the journal of Nature, established that close social relationships improve the health, diversity, and richness of the gut microbiome. The article references a 60-year-old Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which found that "socialness with family and friends is associated with differences in the human fecal microbiota", and that " married individuals harbor microbial communities of greater diversity and richness relative to those living alone, with the greatest diversity among couples reporting close relationships, which is notable given decades of research documenting the health benefits of marriage. These results suggest that human interactions, especially sustained, close marital relationships, influence the gut microbiota."
According to the research, being connected to people in person has a much greater impact on our health than connecting virtually. Physical connectedness stimulates our brains in different ways and encourages a more significant release of oxytocin, the "love chemical" that helps us appreciate our connection to others. Being connected in person also exposes us to a more diverse microbiota, and likely improves our immune function and health in that manner as well.
TAKE AWAYS:
1. As we look back on the COVID 19 pandemic, our ability to connect virtually was a lifeline, and often the most that we felt we could safely accomplish. As we are on the other side of the pandemic, it is important that we work toward restoring in-person social connectedness for ourselves and those we love!
2. Remember that being connected to others is associated with the two strongest health predictors of longevity! Put some effort into connecting, both on a deep level with those who have the potential to be close to you, and even on a more superficial but regular level with those in your community. It may just be the most important thing you can do for yourself and for those around you!!
Disclaimer: This BLOG is for Educational Purposes, Only. This information provided is educational and informational in nature and is made only as general information. The information does not establish a patient-provider relationship, establish a standard of care, or offer medical, dietary, or therapeutic care, advice, opinion, diagnosis, or treatment. This information does not replace independent professional or medical judgment and should not be relied upon as medical, psychological, or other professional advice of any kind or nature whatsoever. This information should not be used for diagnosing or treating any mental or physical health problem or disease. You are solely responsible for any action taken based on your interpretation of this information and you are responsible for your own health care decision-making by obtaining any necessary consultations with appropriately licensed health care professionals such as physicians and psychologists.
Comments