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Social isolation is an objective condition, and loneliness is the emotional state that arises from it.
According to the Surgeon General’s report, the lack of social connection poses a significant risk for individual health and longevity. Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29% respectively.
Further, lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.
Relationships regulate stress. Oxytocin is released with eye contact and touch and is needed by humans. Social media interaction does not result in the release of oxytocin.
Robert Waldinger is the director of the 80-year longitudinal happiness study at Harvard University. He is also a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Waldinger said, “The clearest message that we get from this study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.” Here are some highlights from this study:
- Relationships matter: Close connections and social interactions are core to well-being.
- Quality over quantity: Having a few strong, supportive relationships is more impactful than having many superficial connections.
- Relationships impact health: Good relationships act as a buffer against stress and protect overall health, with those in strong relationships showing lower rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and cognitive decline.
- It’s never too late: It’s always possible to build and nurture meaningful relationships to enhance happiness and well-being.
High-tech connections only require a thumb to reach out digitally, but human connections require all five fingers to shake a hand or give a fist bump. We live in a high-tech world, but building human connections is still a high-touch job.
Building healthy connections is not about you, but it starts with you! Our lives are gifts that are meant to give away.
Stay tuned for proven ways to build healthy, human connections.