Impact of Positive Relationships on Health
Relationships are a huge part of our daily lives. It is impossible to live in complete isolation from other people. In fact, much of the research suggests our health depends on these social connections. In this week’s blog post, I’m going to share some highlights from the research on how relationships impact all areas of our health: psychological, physical, and even spiritual health.
Psychological Health
This area is probably most obvious to us since we experience our psychological health (mental and emotional) going up or down every time we interact with someone. When I’m spending time with someone I know, trust, and love, my mind feels clearer, my body feels lighter, and I have a sense of hope and courage towards what challenges will come my way. On the other hand, those “difficult people” in my life lead me to feel anxious, disappointed, or hurt.
In general, positive social relationships result in:
Higher self-esteem
Resilience against anxiety and depression (and other mental health conditions)
An overall increase in quality of life and satisfaction
Another interesting fact is that strong positive relationships lower the risk of dementia and mental decline with age.
Most of the research on the subject makes a clear connection between positive social relationships and positive mental health outcomes, but one important question remains… why? Some researchers have taken on the task of exploring this question, but there is no one answer currently. It is likely a combination of factors, including fulfilling our attachment needs and belonging, social supports buffering stress and hardship, social learning of coping skills, and identity formation within a social context.
Regardless of the reasons why, I think it goes without saying that we are designed to be social creatures. Positive relationships propel us through the hard moments of life and increase our resilience to mental illness.
Physical Health
Friends and other social connections have been known to improve our physical health and wellbeing for decades. It is well documented that positive relationships are associated with:
A strong immune system (helping to prevent illness and recover from disease)
Improved cardiovascular health
Decreased risk of cancer
Quality sleep
A longer lifespan
…and more.
A strange but interesting piece I came across while researching this blog post comes from Cohen et al. (2003). This team of researchers found a positive connection between sociability and resilience against the common cold. In this study, the researchers asked 334 volunteers to complete questionnaires and interviews which assessed their sociability and quality of their social support network. Next, they exposed the volunteers to a cold virus and monitored who got sick. They found that the more sociable a person was, the less likely they were to develop a cold.
Another significant study relating to physical health and social relationships comes from UNC Chapel Hill. They published a fascinating research paper on the correlation between social connectedness and various areas of physical health. In summary, the researchers found:
For teens, social isolation increased the risk of inflammation by the same amount as physical inactivity.
For older adults, social isolation was more harmful to health than diabetes or hypertension.
And for middle adults, the number of social connections didn’t seem to have as big of an impact as other age categories. What determined health outcomes for middle adults was what those connections provided in terms of social support or strain.
Quality over quantity seems to be the message—and most research seems to agree with that motto. According to a massive meta-analysis of 91 separate publications (providing data on approximately 400,000 persons), the number of social connections one has does not have a significant effect on health or mortality. This suggests, along with other research, that the quality of and satisfaction within these relationships is a more significant determinant of health and wellbeing.
Spiritual Health
Our social relationships even impact our spiritual wellness. A research study found a strong positive connection between the quality of a person’s social connections and their self-reported spiritual wellness. As the number of quality social interactions increased, so did their spiritual, mental, and physical health.
As a Christian, I don’t find this research very surprising. Our relationship with God is patterned on the kinds of social interactions we have with others. If one struggles to trust other humans, it makes sense that they will also struggle to trust God. I often see relational trauma showing up in counselling as an obstacle in ones spiritual journey, especially when the trauma is perpetrated by a spiritual authority or someone claiming to be acting on God’s behalf.
A Loneliness Epidemic
Strong social and emotional relationships have been threatened for many years now, and the COVID-19 pandemic only seems to have exacerbated these problems further. Research into the topic suggests that, although we may have survived the pandemic, we are now facing a loneliness epidemic—which crosses previously assumed age barriers, affecting youth and adults alike.
In all the research already mention, loneliness is shown to be a huge factor contributing to poor psychological, physical, and spiritual health outcomes.
Some of the consequences of loneliness and social isolation include:
Increased risk of depression, self-harm, and suicidality
Increased risk of substance addiction
High blood pressure
Increased cortisol levels (a stress hormone)
Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
Increased risk of obesity
Increased risk of cancer
Disrupted sleep patterns (contributing to various other health concerns)
With these types of health concerns increasing due to loneliness, widespread attempts need to be made to promote positive and meaningful connections in our homes, workplaces, schools, and community.
Building healthy relationships can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’ve experienced a pattern of unhealthy or harmful connections in the past. Sometimes it is necessary to enlist the help of a counsellor who can help you break the cycle of relational dysfunction by helping you address the root issues. If you are struggling with your relationships and would like help, please reach out for a free consultation, or you can book an appointment online.
