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    • Home
    • Meetings
    • Learn
      • Positive Psychology
      • Mindfulness
      • Social Connection
      • Gratitude & Giving
      • Emotions
      • Growth Mindset
      • Purpose & Meaning
      • Neuroplasticity
      • Nature & Wellness
    • Quizzes
      • Self-Compassion
      • Purpose in Life
      • Empathy
      • Stress & Anxiety
      • Gratitude
      • Relationship Trust
      • Mindfulness
      • Altruism
    • On-Campus Resources
      • UO Health Services
      • UO Courses
      • UO Clubs
    • Join or Comment!
  • Home
  • Meetings
  • Learn
    • Positive Psychology
    • Mindfulness
    • Social Connection
    • Gratitude & Giving
    • Emotions
    • Growth Mindset
    • Purpose & Meaning
    • Neuroplasticity
    • Nature & Wellness
  • Quizzes
    • Self-Compassion
    • Purpose in Life
    • Empathy
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Gratitude
    • Relationship Trust
    • Mindfulness
    • Altruism
  • On-Campus Resources
    • UO Health Services
    • UO Courses
    • UO Clubs
  • Join or Comment!

Social Connection

Why Is It Important?

Social Connection is arguably the most impactful pillar of positive psychology and for sustaining a happy and healthy life. According to one scientific study, the quality of our relationships is the number one predictor of how long we'll live, outweighing other strong predictors, such as obesity, smoking, and heart disease. Another study revealed that keeping consistent, healthy relationships improves our health by a whopping 46% more over keeping a consistent, healthy exercise routine or diet. Humans developed through evolution to be social beings, thriving off of how often and how well we contribute and communicate with others. When all humans lived in tribes, the loneliest people died first due to a lack of group protection. Today, we are no different; our bodies, minds, and souls crave others to feel love, belonging, and protection. However, happiness researcher, Johan Harri, alarmingly notes we are the first to "disband our tribes". He says that especially in our American culture of individualism, intensive use of technology, and the situational context of Covid, we are lonelier than we have ever been. It is imperative for the health and well-being of ourselves and others that we socially connect, in a skillful and healthy manner, as often and as in person as we can.


How to Connect in Healthy Ways

Scientific research has shown how having many low-quality connections with "friends and followers" cannot replace the benefits of having even just a few high-quality relationships. But, what is a high-quality relationship? How do we sustain healthy relationships with others? For starters, people who are lonelier tend to assume making relationships comes organically, thus they often do not put in enough effort to form one. In actuality, taking risks in putting ourselves out there and being vulnerable in skillful ways is how we can best form relationships. Some important keys to a healthy relationship are to be open to trust and honesty, to accept yourself and others for being your authentic selves, to have a large capacity for empathy and compassion, to practice gratitude with others, and to "savor the good and reframe the bad".

Benefits of Social Connection

  • Lowers Anxiety and Depression
  • Improves Immune System
  • Improves Resilience to Disease
  • Higher Self-Esteem
  • Greater Empathy and Compassion
  • Increases Trust and Cooperation with Others
  • Heightens Life Expectancy
  • Increases Sense of Belonging and Purpose

Articles & More

Hands On Research: The Science of Touch

Good Social Relationships Are the Most Consistent Predictor of a Happy Life

The Skills You Need For Happier Relationships With Family

29 Sep 2010 by Dacher Kelter

article

The Skills You Need For Happier Relationships With Family

Good Social Relationships Are the Most Consistent Predictor of a Happy Life

The Skills You Need For Happier Relationships With Family

3 Jan 2023 by Flora Jin

article

Good Social Relationships Are the Most Consistent Predictor of a Happy Life

Good Social Relationships Are the Most Consistent Predictor of a Happy Life

Good Social Relationships Are the Most Consistent Predictor of a Happy Life

18 Oct 2019 by Thomas Oppong

article

Why Your Friends Are More Important Than You Think

Why Your Friends Are More Important Than You Think

Good Social Relationships Are the Most Consistent Predictor of a Happy Life

7 Jul 2020 by Kira M. Newman

article

10 Pillars of a Strong Relationship

Why Your Friends Are More Important Than You Think

6 Techniques to Help You Bridge Differences

15 Mar 2021 by Gary Wl Lewandowski Jr. 

article

6 Techniques to Help You Bridge Differences

Why Your Friends Are More Important Than You Think

6 Techniques to Help You Bridge Differences

4 Jan 2021 by Anthony Smith and Jeremy Adam Smith

article

Social Networks and Cooperation in Hunter-Gatherers

Exploring the Causes of Subjective Well-Being: A Content Analysis of Peoples’ Recipes for Long-Term

Exploring the Causes of Subjective Well-Being: A Content Analysis of Peoples’ Recipes for Long-Term

By Coren L. Apicella, Frank W. Marlowe, James H. Fowler, and Nicholas A. Christakis

scholarly journal

Exploring the Causes of Subjective Well-Being: A Content Analysis of Peoples’ Recipes for Long-Term

Exploring the Causes of Subjective Well-Being: A Content Analysis of Peoples’ Recipes for Long-Term

Exploring the Causes of Subjective Well-Being: A Content Analysis of Peoples’ Recipes for Long-Term

19 May 2012 by Benjamin S Caunt, John Franklin, Nina E. Brodaty, & Henry Brodaty

scholarly journal

Social Connection and Well-Being during COVID-19

Exploring the Causes of Subjective Well-Being: A Content Analysis of Peoples’ Recipes for Long-Term

Social Connection and Well-Being during COVID-19

20 Mar 2021 by World Happiness Report

book chapter

Connected

Power of Vulnerability

Social Connection and Well-Being during COVID-19

by James H. Fowler and Nicholas A. Christakis 

book

Power of Vulnerability

Power of Vulnerability

Power of Vulnerability

by Brené Brown

book

Atlas of the Heart

Power of Vulnerability

Power of Vulnerability

by Brené Brown

book

Videos

How Love and Connection Exist in Micro-Moments

The Attachment Theory: How Childhood Affects Life

The Attachment Theory: How Childhood Affects Life

Barbara Fredrickson explains how shared positive emotions make us happier, healthier, and more connected.

The Attachment Theory: How Childhood Affects Life

The Attachment Theory: How Childhood Affects Life

The Attachment Theory: How Childhood Affects Life

The attachment theory argues that a strong emotional and physical bond to one primary caregiver in our first years of life is critical to our development.

What Is Your Attachment Style?

The Attachment Theory: How Childhood Affects Life

How friendship affects your brain - Shannon Odell

Knowing whether we are secure, anxious or avoidant in our attachment patterns gives us a vocabulary with which to get on top of some very tricky dynamics and helps us grow into more predictable and more joyful companions in love.

How friendship affects your brain - Shannon Odell

Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

How friendship affects your brain - Shannon Odell

Dig into what happens to your brain during adolescence that changes how you value, understand, and connect to friends.

Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it's fame and money, you're not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you're mistaken.

The difference between healthy and unhealthy love | Katie Hood

Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

In a talk about understanding and practicing the art of healthy relationships, Katie Hood reveals the five signs you might be in an unhealthy relationship -- with a romantic partner, a friend, a family member -- and shares the things you can do every day to love with respect, kindness and joy.

Podcasts

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Oprah's Super Soul

listen

Mistakenly Seeking Solitude

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Happiness Lab with Laurie Santos

listen

How to Not Ruin Your Relationships

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Can You Really Conquer Hatred Through Love

Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris

listen

Can You Really Conquer Hatred Through Love

3 Traits of Lasting Relationships and What You Can Learn From Failed Relationships

Can You Really Conquer Hatred Through Love

Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris

listen

Fighting Depression with Finding Connection, Johann Hari

3 Traits of Lasting Relationships and What You Can Learn From Failed Relationships

3 Traits of Lasting Relationships and What You Can Learn From Failed Relationships

Ten Percent happier with Dan Harris

listen

3 Traits of Lasting Relationships and What You Can Learn From Failed Relationships

3 Traits of Lasting Relationships and What You Can Learn From Failed Relationships

3 Traits of Lasting Relationships and What You Can Learn From Failed Relationships

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

listen

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