Exploring the Biology of Relationships

Cuddles, kisses, and caring conversations. These are key ingredients of our close relationships. Scientists are finding that our links to others can have powerful effects on our health. Whether with romantic partners, family, friends, neighbors, or others, social connections can influence our biology and well-being.

Read more: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2017/02/do-social-ties-affect-our-health

Social Wellness

From the time you’re born, your relationships help you learn to navigate the world. You learn how to interact with others, express yourself, conduct everyday health habits, and be a part of different communities from those around you. Positive social habits can help you build support systems and stay healthier mentally and physically.

Read more: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/social-wellness-toolkit

Social Connectedness and Engagement

Evidence of the possible health benefits of social connectedness is increasing.

Read more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6123501/

Social Relationships and Health

Social relationships—both quantity and quality—affect mental health, health behavior, physical health, and mortality risk. Sociologists have played a central role in establishing the link between social relationships and health outcomes, identifying explanations for this link, and discovering social variation (e.g., by gender and race) at the population level.

Read more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150158/

Power of Social Interactions

Social connection is a pillar of lifestyle medicine. Humans are wired to connect, and this connection affects our health. From psychological theories to recent research, there is significant evidence that social support and feeling connected can help people maintain a healthy body mass index, control blood sugars, improve cancer survival, decrease cardiovascular mortality, decrease depressive symptoms, mitigate posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and improve overall mental health.

Read more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6125010/

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