Social Health
What is social health and how does it affect your health outcomes as you age? Social relationships (friends & relatives) are the relationships we maintain with others that affect our behavioral, psychosocial (individual thought and personal control), and psychological health. According to NCBI “social ties work to influence health, and personal health behavior contribute to 40% of premature mortality along with morbidity (having a disease or symptom of disease), and disability” (NCBI, 2010).
Behavioral Health covers a range of personal health behaviors such as diet, exercise, following medical advice, sexual relations and other areas that when practiced and supported by through social ties promote health and prevent illness. Alternately, other behaviors such as smoking, excessive weight gain, drug abuse, and heavy alcohol use undermine health and social ties that support these behaviors can have devastating long lasting effects on health outcomes. Association with the community and friends tend to have a more positive effect on health behaviors over a 10 year period (Berkman and Breslow’s 1983).
Psychosocial refers to “our social supports and sense of personal control. Social support is the emotionally sustaining qualities of a relationship (feeling loved, cared for, listened to), and hundreds of studies show the mental and physical health benefits” (Cohen 2004; Uchino 2004). These relationships help reduce stress and provide a sense of purpose. While personal control is the belief that we control life outcomes, our social supports empower this sense of personal control so they are inextricably linked. Reducing the unhealthy behaviors and improving mental and physical health means having the right social supports in place. Furthermore, social health and the emotional support we receive from it is connected to overall mental health.
While there are a number of reasons social support is important to positive health outcomes over the life course, it can also provide stress and in turn be a catalyst for unhealthy behavior choices. When this happens, it’s time to seek professional help to understand how to improve your social relationships.
The bottom line is health behaviors are heavily influenced by our social network. Though we are all affected in different ways by the advantages and disadvantages of social health the outcomes accumulate throughout our lifetime and shape overall health over time. Scientific evidence continues to show the health benefits of having a healthy social life.
How's your social network? Take this short test by Harvard Medical School to see where you stand
Add the number of points indicated for each answer:
Answer……………Score
None……………….0
1…………………….1 point
2…………………….2 points
3-4………………….3 points
5-8………………….4 points
9 or more…………5 points
FAMILY: The people to whom you are related by birth, marriage, adoption, etc.
1. How many relatives do you see or hear from at least once a month?
2. How many relatives do you feel enough at ease with that you can talk about private matters?
3. How many relatives do you feel close to such that you could call on them for help?
FRIENDSHIPS: All of your friends, including those in your neighborhood.
4. How many of your friends do you see or hear from at least once a month?
5. How many friends do you feel at ease with that you can talk to about private matters?
6. How many friends do you feel close to such that you could call on them for help?
If your combined score for all six questions is 12 or lower, you may be socially isolated.
