Psychological Social Health

 Psychological Social Health

Everything you need to know about social health

• Psychological Social Health

The concept of social health is less intuitively familiar than that of physical or mental health, and yet, along with physical and mental health, it forms one of the three pillars of most definitions of health. This is partly because social health can refer both to a characteristic of a society, and of individuals.

At first glance, social health may be challenging to identify and address, but many benefits come from strengthening your relationships with others.

Humans are social creatures. We’re meant to have relationships and connections for our health and wellness.

Good relationships with friends and family do more than just enrich your social life—research shows they are key to a person’s overall health and wellness, specifically their social wellness

The need for social connectedness is universal

People talked most about the extent to which they were well-integrated into the social fabric of their community—with their loved ones, their family, and friends

the finding makes sense because “relationships offer support, comfort, belonging—all the important human needs.”

Even the World Health Organization recognizes the importance of social wellness, including it in its official definition of health: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

What is Social Wellness?

Social wellness refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others. Our relationships can offer support during difficult times. Social wellness involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you

Why is it so Important Today?

Our social health and social wellness are a vital part of our overall health and wellbeing.

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

Healthy relationships are a vital component of health.

Research shows that:

• People who have a strong social network tend to live longer.
• The heart and blood pressure of people with healthy relationships respond better to stress.
• Strong social networks are associated with a healthier endocrine system and healthier cardiovascular functioning.
• Healthy social networks enhance the immune system’s ability to fight off infectious diseases.

How Do We Measure Social Health & Wellness?

Reflecting on ourselves and our relationships is a great way to assess 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 

Terms Related To Social Wellness And Social Health

Social Relations

Social relations is a blanket term for interactions between two or more people, groups, or organizations. Individual social relationships are composed of an immense number of social, physical, and verbal interactions that create a climate for the exchange of feelings and ideas.

Social Support

Social support refers to the psychological and material resources provided by a social network to help individuals cope with stress. Such social support may come in different forms, and might involve:

• Helping a person with various daily tasks when they are ill or offering financial assistance when they are in need
• Giving advice to a friend when they are facing a difficult situation
• Providing caring, empathy, and concern for loved ones in need.

Social Integration

Social integration is the actual participation in various social relationships, ranging from romantic partnerships to friendships. This integration involves emotions intimacy, and a sense of belonging to different social groups, including being part of a:

• Family
• Partnership
• Religious community
• Social activity

Experts suggest that being integrated into such social relationships confers a protective benefit against maladaptive behaviors and damaging health consequences.

Alone vs Loneliness

It’s important to know that while uncomfortable, there is a distinct difference between being alone and chronic loneliness. A 2019 Psychology Today article by psychotherapist Amy Morin reported that loneliness isn’t only bad for one’s mental health, but it can send someone to an early death.

The comparison is that being chronically lonely is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Being alone is different, though, and can be good for one’s health.

The difference:

• Being alone at times is good for you – Solitude offers time to reflect and take pause. It also may help improve your mental health and relationships, boost creativity, and help you plan for the future.
• Loneliness looks different – When being alone isn’t a choice, it can become loneliness and may become a health concern, especially if it leads to depression.

The Impact of Poor Social Health on Physical Health

You may have noticed that when you’re feeling down and out, that your physical and mental health suffers. During those periods, if you shied away from connecting with others, you also likely felt more of an impact on your overall health.

Poor social health can cause a variety of health issues including:

• Inflammation
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Suppressed immune system
• Chronic health conditions
• Mental health issues like anxiety

Research shows the quality and quantity of relationships have an effect on mental and physical health. Loneliness, it turns out, can even be more dangerous than smoking, according to research by the Indian Journal of Psychiatry.

In older adults, it’s even more cause for concern. And that’s not just taking retiree-aged individuals into account. A recent 2020 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report found that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely. Of those 65 and older, nearly one-fourth of that population falls into the category of “socially isolated.”

Types of Social Support

Supportive social networks can come in different forms and play different roles in your life. 

Emotional Support

Sometimes the people in your life provide emotional support. They back you up when you need it and are there with a shoulder to cry on when things don’t go your way. This type of support can be particularly important during times of stress or when people are feeling lonely.

Instrumental Support

In other cases, the people in your social network might provide instrumental support. They take care of your physical needs and offer a helping hand when you need it. This might involve bringing you a hot meal when you are sick or giving you a ride when your car is in the shop. Such support is important when people have immediate needs that must be addressed.

Informational Support

People can also provide what is known as informational support. This can involve providing guidance, advice, information, and mentoring. Such support can be important when making decisions or big changes in one’s life.

By having this form of support, people may feel less anxious and stressed out about the problems they are trying to solve thanks to the advice of a trusted friend, mentor, or loved one.

As you might imagine, people in your social networks may take on different roles. A teacher might provide informational support, while a parent might provide all three types. By having a solid social support network, you are more likely to receive the type of support that you need when you really need it.

Health Benefits

So now that we understand that our social support systems involve both different types of social support as well as integration into different social groups, it is time to take a closer look at exactly how these social relationships influence both physical and mental health.

Healthy Choices and Behaviors

Participation in social groups has a normative influence on behaviors, often influencing whether people eat a healthy diet, exercise, smoke, drink, or use illegal substances.8

Clearly, social groups can sometimes have a negative influence in this regard when peer pressure and influence leads to poor or even dangerous health choices. However, group pressure and support can also lead people to engage in healthy behaviors as well. 

If you have ever tried to give up a bad habit, such as smoking, you probably realize just how important social support can be. If your social connections do not support you, it can make success much more difficult. If your friends and family offer support and encouragement, you may find achieving your goal much more possible.

Coping With Stress

Social support also helps people to cope with stress. Stress has been shown to have serious health consequences ranging from reduced immunity to an increased risk of heart disease.

Being surrounded by people who are caring and supportive help people to see themselves as better capable of dealing with the stresses that life brings.

Research has also shown that having strong social support in times of crisis can help reduce the consequences of trauma-induced disorders including PTSD.9

Improves Motivation

Social relationships can also help people to stay motivated when trying to achieve their goals. People who are trying to lose weight or quit smoking, for example, often find that it helps to connect with people who are actively trying to attain those same goals.

Talking to people who are going through the same experience can often be a source of support, empathy, and motivation.

How to Improve Your Social Wellness

Good social skills are learned behavior that takes practice. But it’s not too late for anyone to improve their social wellness. Every stage of life has opportunities for enjoying a socially healthy life. 

Start with Self Care

Before you can set out to improve your social wellness, you need to practice self-care. Look after yourself by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy balanced diet, exercising, and removing any coping mechanisms like excessive alcohol consumption. Understand what causes you stress and how to not let it consume you.   

Making Friends (and Maintaining Friendships)

Even the most social, confident people can feel intimidated about making new friends. 

Small Talk

Make conversation using easy topics about what they like to do in their spare time, TV series they enjoy watching, or the weather. Listen to their responses and if you have something in common, keep the conversation going by talking more about that interest.  

Reaching Out

We lose friendships when we don’t keep in regular contact. Set yourself a goal of contacting one or two friends each week. Pick up the phone, befriend them on social media or email them, to show them you care and value your relationship. Plan to do something fun together or just a catch-up for a coffee. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, as long as you’re catching up face to face regularly is what matters most.

Find a Community Group

Not everyone needs close friendships. Some people prefer plenty of low-key friendships and acquaintances throughout different areas of their lives. 

One of the easiest ways to meet new people is to join a group. Find something you’re interested in, so you’ll have that in common with your new group. You could try volunteering or joining a youth group. 

Work On Your Communication Skills

A large part of making and keeping friends is communication. Some people feel their poor communication skills make it difficult to socialize and build a rapport with new people. For some, it’s a condition they were born with while for others it’s a lack of confidence or practice. There are courses that people can take online or in-person that help can help with communication skills.  

Use Exercise to Meet Others

Joining a gym or even taking your pet to the park at a similar time each day, will mean you often see the same people. Even if it’s just someone who says hello and asks how your day is, start up a conversation with them. These types of relationships can make all the difference to improve your social wellness. 

The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health

To avoid the alone time, you may turn to social media. This often has the opposite effect intended when you get caught up in comparisons and/or superficial relationships, research shows.

Studies report the effects of social media on mental health are significant as it can make people feel more disconnected and lonely.

Social health means also discovering what authentic relationships feel like. Individuals can still feel lonely when not alone since being with people doesn’t ensure that you feel connected or accepted. That’s where the idea of quality versus quantity comes into play.

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. 

We Are Always Changing 

With time people change. You might have had much in common with a good friend at high school, but ten years later you have both moved in different directions and don’t enjoy the company as much as you do when you’re with others. 

Some people change and can be a bad influence on friends. Not everyone can recognize that a friend is no longer a healthy influence and it takes a family member to point it out. 

Bad Influences 

It’s important to have friends but they need to be good friendships. A positive friendship will bring out the best in you, encouraging you to achieve the things you want to do. It’s important to have friends who are a good influence in your life.  

A poor or bad friend is someone who:

• Isn’t supportive of your endeavors
• Is negative about others
• Can’t be trusted to keep a secret
• Can’t be counted on to help when needed

Toxic Relationships

The most worrying is when a relationship is toxic. One person may take advantage of the relationship by using the other person to do things for them and not return a favor. 

In long-term relationships, one partner may control another through their bad temper. The angry outbursts mean their partner gives up trying to communicate with them for days and feels like they’re ‘walking on eggshells, not knowing when the next outburst is coming. Another form of control, (usually in a long-term relationship) is suspicion and jealousy. It often increases as the relationship goes on, and the ‘victim’ has less freedom and more explaining to do about where they are going. Other bullies will belittle a friend or partner in front of others, often brushing it off as making a joke but it’s no joke when their behavior hurts the other person.  

A toxic relationship can do physical and mental harm to the ‘victim's health.

Nurture Your Relationships

Relationships fade out if neither party works at them. It only takes one person in a friendship to keep it going. Don’t worry if you’re always making the effort. You’re benefitting from a healthy relationship and your friend appreciates you even more for valuing them which makes you feel good. A couple’s relationship can take effort from both sides, but you can be the one to set the tone and good example.   

Make a Commitment and Keep It

If you have organized to be somewhere or do something, try to keep the date. It’s normal to sometimes not feel like going out. Sitting on the lounge at home may be the easy option, but your friend won’t feel valued if you keep canceling. There’s a good chance you won’t feel good about yourself either for making an excuse for not going. Unless you’re unwell, don’t cancel a commitment. 

Don’t Blame or Criticise

It’s easy to have a go at someone, but we’re all different. Accept that everyone has a right to live their life differently from yours. Chances are you aren’t always in the right so don’t act like you are. Instead talk out a problem without anger, recrimination, or blame.   

Master Verbal and Non-Verbal Appreciation

Everyone wants to feel valued. Try to show you appreciate your friend or contact through various verbal and non-verbal cues. The more valued a friend feels, the more enjoyable their experience is in the relationship and the longer they will want to keep it going.  

Attentiveness and Listening

Everyone wants to feel they’re being listened to. Couple or friendship fatigue can set in and you tune out when the other person is talking. Be mindful of it and use active listening, giving feedback when appropriate but don’t interrupt the other person while they’re getting out their thoughts.  

The Willingness To Work Through Difficulties And Disagreements

Throwing in the towel, even if you don’t walk out the door, is not the path to happiness. You must face the discomfort that comes with differing opinions and ideas.

Make a dedicated time for those who matter

Devote a portion of your day toward relationship building, even if it’s just 20 minutes, perhaps broken up into five-minute segments. Let those who are close to you know that you see them as a priority.

Communicate candidly and honestly

A good relationship starts with good communication. Don’t let silence get between what you have to say to each other. Good communication has to be developed, and the process takes effort. Don’t stop talking when something needs to be said and don’t speak when someone else needs to be heard.

Connect through service

Too many relationships are built on each party wanting to get something out of the deal. But the only way a relationship will last is if you treat it as a place where you go to give, not to take.

Working on your important relationships is a way of life that’s worth pursuing–because the quality of those relationships is the quality of your life.

Conclusion

Every once in a while, it can be important to assess your relationships:

• Do you have enough social support?
• Would you benefit from deepening your current relationships?
• Could you use some new social contacts or social outlets?

You might decide to get more proactive about giving and getting emotional support. It could greatly improve the quality of your life.

And if you’re struggling to make friends or keep them, you might reach out to a therapist. A mental health provider may be able to assist you in healthily managing your relationships so you can have the social support you need to be your best.

Keep on Working on Your Social Wellness

Whatever your age or stage of life is, don’t take relationships for granted. Value the friendships you have and keep developing new ones. Your physical and mental health will thank you for it and your quality of life will reflect it.