What is Social Health?

Social health can be defined as our ability to interact and form meaningful relationships with others. It also relates to how comfortably we can adapt in social situations. Social relationships have an impact on our mental health, physical health and mortality risk. 

Over the years, sociologists have created a link between social relationships and health outcomes. Studies are showing that social relationships both quality and quantity are having short and long-term effects on our health. 

A young woman enjoying time with friends at a café, reflecting good social health

Signs of Being Socially Healthy Include: 

Having assertive skills rather than passive or aggressive ones

Balancing your social and personal time

Being engaged with other people in the community

Adapting in social situations 

To be yourself in all situations

Treating others with respect

Being able to develop and maintain friendships and networks

Creating boundaries in friendships to encourage communication and conflict management

Having a supportive network of family and friends

Having fun in life  

Why Is Social Health Important?

Our social health and social wellness are a vital part of our overall health and wellbeing. According to the Australian Government “social relationships are protective of mental health”. 

We interact with people every day. The quality and quantity of our relationships affect our mental and physical wellbeing. Maintaining a good level of social wellness lets you build interpersonal relationships with others. These relationships include friendships, intimate relationships, platonic, family, and professional (work) relationships. 

Studies show that people with poor social interactions are more likely to die younger than those with high involvement rates. 

Researchers have also linked the following health issues to poor social health:

Suffering a heart attack 

Chronic disease 

Mobility issues 

High blood pressure

Raised stress hormones leading to inflammation

Cancer

Poor mental health 

Anxiety & depression 

Poor immune system

Young woman looking out her window, suffering from poor social health

How Do We Measure Social Health & Wellness?

Reflecting on ourselves and our relationships is a great way to asses our social health. We can start by looking at the signs of good social health and assessing whether these apply to your life.

Signs of good social health include: 

Balancing your social and personal time

Being your true self at all times 

Engaging with people in your community 

Treating others with respect 

Maintaining and building strong relationships with friends 

Creating healthy boundaries that help with communication, trust and conflict management 

Turning to friends and family for support 

Communicating effectively 

Move Over GDP

For the first time, Western countries realise that life satisfaction of their citizens is just as important to measure as the Gross National Product (GDP). A country’s economic prosperity doesn’t mean much if its citizens are miserable. Multi-dimensional measures help assess a nation’s wellbeing. 

Some governments are asking residents about their subjective wellbeing in national surveys. It was difficult to gain a good picture with just one question, so some countries have expanded the survey to ask:

Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?

Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday?

Overall, did you feel lonely yesterday?

Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?

The answers give policymakers a good idea of how their citizens are tracking and what policies are needed to improve the population’s social health and wellbeing. 

The Problem with Loneliness

Being lonely can kill. Researchers have made the comparison between being lonely and smoking 15 cigarettes per day - both are as deadly as each other. A person who is lonely is 50% more likely to die prematurely than a person who has healthy social relationships. Loneliness can reduce a person’s immune system and cause inflammation in the body which can lead to heart disease and other chronic conditions. Without social or emotional support, stress can place a bigger toll on a person’s health. 

In the UK, 15-20% of the adult population described themselves as ‘often or always lonely.’ The UK government has recognized the size of the problem and introduced a Minister for Loneliness. The best way to beat loneliness is to meet new people and make friends throughout our lives.

The Negative Side of Social Relationships 

Unfortunately, not all relationships are healthy. Relationships are the core of emotional support for most, but social relationships can sometimes be extremely stressful.