Title
Social Connection: An under-appreciated determinant of heath
Publisher
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Place of Publication
Chattanooga (Tenn.)
Abstract
The importance of human connection and concerns over the effects of isolation rose to the level of a simultaneous public health crisis during the Covid-19 pandemic; however, much of the focus was on secondary effects on mental health and emotional well-being. There is now robust evidence from decades of interdisciplinary science documenting the protective effects of social connections on health and longevity, and evidence that lacking social connection qualifies as a risk factor for chronic disease and premature mortality. This talk will summarize this evidence, providing the scope of the health effects, potential mechanisms and risk factors, as well as potential solutions to reduce risk. Importantly, this evidence points to several implications for solutions across sectors focused on individuals, communities, and society.
Date
10-16-2021
Subject
Industrial and organizational psychology
Document Type
presentations
Language
English
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Social Connection: An under-appreciated determinant of heath
The importance of human connection and concerns over the effects of isolation rose to the level of a simultaneous public health crisis during the Covid-19 pandemic; however, much of the focus was on secondary effects on mental health and emotional well-being. There is now robust evidence from decades of interdisciplinary science documenting the protective effects of social connections on health and longevity, and evidence that lacking social connection qualifies as a risk factor for chronic disease and premature mortality. This talk will summarize this evidence, providing the scope of the health effects, potential mechanisms and risk factors, as well as potential solutions to reduce risk. Importantly, this evidence points to several implications for solutions across sectors focused on individuals, communities, and society.
Department
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Dept. of Psychology