How does my social life affect my health?

Increased social connections may promote longevity and increased vitality by reducing the risk of heart disease, hypertension, perhaps some cancers, and even infectious diseases. Indeed, social connectedness appears to be one of the more important factors in heart disease prevention. A Swedish study, for example, found that a person's social contacts -- with a spouse, relatives, friends, church and other community involvements, and so on -- were a better predictor of the risk of heart attack than any of the accepted biomedical risk factors such as hypertension and an adverse blood cholesterol profile, although this study didn't measure exercise or diet.

A study of newly unemployed workers found that those who had the support of spouses had lower cholesterol levels than those who lacked such support. A study of married and unmarried individuals found that those who are not married experience a higher mortality rate than those who are; a study of pregnant U.S. Army wives found that women with rich social resources had only one-third the complications of those without social connectedness. In a recent study of on-the-job stress, investigators found that men and women with good social support networks had lower heart rates and lower blood pressures than those who lacked such social support.

Developing your social side is crucial for well-being. Studies show that people who are socially active, who are compassionate, and who are emotionally generous have higher levels of happiness and live longer than people who lead a more solitary life.

Research also shows that people who have strong interpersonal skills rank in the highest levels of happiness, and those who are socially isolated have substantially lower levels of well-being.

Social skills are just one part of this happiness factor. People who maintain good personal relationships also fare better than people who are socially inactive. Open, trusting, intimate relationships are essential building blocks for a happy life.

And it isn't only receiving support that makes us happy; it's being able to give support to others as well.

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