A lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure.
On the flipside, social connection strengthens our immune system, helps us recover from disease faster, and may even lengthen our life.
In a recent study that involved over 270,000 people in nearly 100 countries, found that both family and friend relationships were associated with better health and happiness overall.
“The general point is that the more support, the more positive interactions, the better. The important thing is having people you can rely on, for the good times as well as the bad” (Chopik).
Social support is related to psychological well-being, meaning that the more a person feels he has friends and family who are there for him, the less likely he is to feel depressed and anxious (Turner, 1981).
REFERENCES
JS House, KR Landis, D Umberson. Social relationships and health. Science. 29 JUL 1988 : 540-545
Stephanie L. Brown, Randolph M. Nesse, Amiram D. Vinokur, Dylan M. Smith. Providing Social Support May Be More Beneficial Than Receiving It: Results From a Prospective Study of Mortality, Psychological Science Vol 14, Issue 4, pp. 320 – 327 First Published July 1, 2003 https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.14461
CHOPIK, W. J. (2017), Associations among relational values, support, health, and well-being across the adult lifespan. Pers Relationship, 24: 408–422. doi:10.1111/pere.12187
Steger, Michael F., and Todd B. Kashdan. “Depression and Everyday Social Activity, Belonging, and Well-Being.” Journal of counseling psychology 56.2 (2009): 289–300. PMC. Web. 12 Jan. 2018.