How Social Connection Can Improve Our Quality of Life

Michael G. Jasper

Published in

The Inner Observer

4 min readMar 17, 2023

“Loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” — Douglas Nemecek, MD, Cigna.

Having healthy social connections with others has been found to lead to a stronger immune system, longer lifespan, and improved quality of life. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Social Connection?

Social connection occurs when you feel like you belong and are close to others, such as with friends, family, and community. Social connection is a core human requirement, and falls within the “love and belonging” category of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

A lack of social connection can lead to a state of isolation and loneliness. Social isolation stems from having infrequent contact with others, while loneliness is the subjective feeling of being alone. As a result, someone can still feel lonely even if they are surrounded by other people.

In 2018, over 20,000 adults were surveyed to better understand the impact loneliness was having on the population. The survey found that:

**Loneliness Statistics According to Cigna Survey (2018)**

Social isolation and loneliness have also been linked to serious health risks. A 2019 study conducted by the American Cancer Society analyzed data from more than 580,000 adults and found that social isolation increased the risk of premature death from all causes by at least 50% or more.

“Loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, making it even more dangerous than obesity.” — Douglas Nemecek, MD, chief medical officer for behavioral health, Cigna.

The Benefits of Social Connection

First, let’s look at some of the benefits that having a strong sense of social connection can bring into our lives:

better mood (through the release of feel-good hormones such as oxytocin)
reduced stress
higher self-esteem
less depression, insomnia, and cognitive decline
a deeper sense of fulfillment
a stronger immune system
longer lifespan
improved quality of life

How to Stay Connected

The good news is that there are many ways that we can nurture new and existing relationships in order to stay connected. Here are a few ideas that could help you along the way:

Attend a Group Activity

Joining a group activity such as local clubs, yoga classes, or concerts, can be a great way to have routine interaction and stay connected with others.

Volunteer

Volunteering at a local organization can be a rewarding way to discover new friendships and build empathy while giving back to those in need.

Hobbies

Whether it’s picking up an old hobby or trying out something new, hobbies can help you meet other people with common likes and interests.

Get Physical

As long as it’s consensual, physical touch, be it a hug or handshake, can help us bond with others and show them we care.

Practice Active Listening

During conversations, do your best to show others that you’re listening. Maintain regular eye contact, let others finish their thoughts before interrupting, listen without judgment, and ask questions to show them they have your full attention.

Meditation

Even if you are alone, you can still foster a sense of connection with others on the inside. Research has shown that Loving-Kindness Meditation can increase our feelings of connection to those around us.

Key Takeaways

Let’s sum this up with three key takeaways.

1. What are The Benefits of Social Connection?

Those that feel connected with others have stronger immune systems, longer lifespans, and improved quality of life, compared to those that don’t.

2. What is Social Connection?

Social connection is the feeling of belonging and closeness with others, such as with friends, family, and community, and is a core human need. Lack of social connection can lead to social isolation (infrequent contact with others), and loneliness (the feeling of being alone).

3. How Can You Stay Connected?

Attending a group activity, volunteering, finding a hobby, giving hugs, active listening, and loving-kindness meditation are some of the ways we can stay socially connected with others.