Socialize for Your Health and the Health of Others

Every time we connect or gather with others, we are helping to battle against an exploding “loneliness epidemic” that threatens the lives of many.

I’ve noticed an increasing number of stories on loneliness in the media recently. Relationship trends in the United States, for example, have been on the decline for decades. People have significantly fewer close friends than in the past, plus nearly half of us experience some level of loneliness.

Although we may feel sad about our collective lack of a social life, it is easy to ignore it in favor of those diseases, drugs, and lifestyle habits that are killing people. One problem with that approach: loneliness is killing people.

Loneliness is more than just a bad feeling. Over time, a shortage of social relationships can seriously threaten our overall health.

According to the research studies of Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad (whose work is summarized in Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy M.D.), strong social relationships are essential for longer living:

• People with strong social relationships are 50 percent less likely to die prematurely than those with weak social relationships.
• The lack of social connection has the same impact on life span as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
• It is a greater health risk than:
  • Obesity
  • Excess alcohol consumption
  • Lack of exercise

Although harder to measure than physical disorders, the mental health impact of less relational living appears to be significant as well. Just one area—anxiety disorders—have climbed to alarming levels. In recent years, surveys report people feeling greater levels of anxiety than before. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of American, about 40 million Americans—nearly one out of every five people—have some sort of anxiety disorder.

Of course, people struggling with extreme anxiety and health issues are not in the best position to work on reducing their social isolation, which often creates a vicious cycle of increasing loneliness.

Even the health care field is beginning to recognize the link between social health and physical health. One of the largest studies on relationships and loneliness conducted in the past decade–which concluded that we are in a “loneliness epidemic”–was instigated by Cigna, one of the world’s largest health insurers.

Some health plans are beginning to provide incentives for members to socialize, much like they do for other positive health practices like exercise and regular physicals. In at least one of their Medicare Advantage plans, UnitedHealthcare offers $10 to “support your overall health and well-being by spending time with others.” Qualifying activities include attending a community event, calling a friend or loved one, and participating in a class/activity with others.

Although it is easy to prioritize everyday tasks and projects over relationship time–I am a repeat offender here–we need to remember that our importance to each other’s physical and mental health has perhaps never been greater. So, every time we reach out to someone, we might be doing a lot more (for both us and them) than brightening their day.

Finally, when the time approaches for making New Year’s resolutions to improve our health, wouldn’t it be more enjoyable to commit to socializing more often instead of sweating in a gym or starving ourselves on the latest diet?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below.

Patrick Klingaman