Social Connectedness
Social connectedness is also referred to as “social connection”, and it influences our overall health and wellbeing.
Social connection is the experience of feeling close and connected to others. It involves feeling loved, cared for, and valued, and forms the basis of interpersonal relationships.
"Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship." - Brené Brown, Professor of social work at the University of Houston
Increasingly, social connection is understood as a core human need, and the desire to connect as a fundamental drive. In humans, one of the most social species, social connection is essential to nearly every aspect of health and well-being. Lack of connection, or loneliness, has been linked to inflammation, accelerated aging and cardiovascular health risk, suicide, and all-cause mortality.
Feeling socially connected depends on the quality and number of meaningful relationships one has with family, friends, and acquaintances. Going beyond the individual level, it also involves a feeling of connecting to a larger community. Connectedness on a community level has profound benefits for both individuals and society..
What does social connection mean?
Social connections are the relationships you have with the people around you. They may be close, like family, friends, and co-workers, or more distant, like people you know casually. They can be as close as next door or so far away that you only connect with them by telephone or through the Internet.
A person’s perception of their social connectedness may not necessarily mirror their actual social network. An individual can be surrounded by others yet feel lonely, or they can be isolated from others but still feel social connectedness.
How Can I Increase my Social Connection?
- Service to others. Volunteering and compassion to others have health benefits for you and creates a sense of connection and purpose. Volunteer for things you care about in your community, like a community garden, school, library, or place of worship.
- Combine social interaction with an activity. It could be a physical activity like walking together or a fitness class, or it could be something like a book club or a play. Invite someone to go share a cup of coffee.
- Join a group focused on a favorite hobby, such as reading, hiking, or painting. Take a class to learn something new.
- Participate in a neighborhood event. Search for events in your neighborhood, larger community or town. Make a point of striking up a conversation with one or more people attending.
- Ask for help. Reach out to those around you. People like to help but if you do not ask for help they assume that you do not need it.
What is engagement?
Social engagement (also social involvement, social participation) refers to one's degree of participation in a community or society.
Key elements of social engagement include activity (doing something), interaction (at least two people need to be involved in this activity), social exchange (the activity involves giving or receiving something from others), and lack of compulsion (there is no outside force forcing an individual to engage in the activity).
For the most part, social engagement excludes activities for which one is getting paid, or family obligations.
You can engage in the community by:
- Volunteering for an organization or institution, whether it’s a local club, nonprofit organization, faith community or another type of organization.
- Rekindling creative talents or learning new ones by taking art classes, learning how to play a musical instrument or singing in a choir.
- Getting involved in intergenerational opportunities to support youth, such as mentoring or tutoring programs.
- Taking lifelong learning courses, educational classes or technology training at a senior center, local college or university.
- Participating in health and wellness classes.
- Using technology to connect to friends and family.
- Seeking employment opportunities or developing entrepreneurial skills.
What is loneliness?
Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social pain – a psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections. It is often associated with an unwanted lack of connection and intimacy. Loneliness overlaps and yet is distinct from solitude. Solitude is simply the state of being apart from others; not everyone who experiences solitude feels lonely. As a subjective emotion, loneliness can be felt even when a person is surrounded by other people.
People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression. Moreover, studies show they also have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, are more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them. In other words, social connectedness generates a positive feedback loop of social, emotional and physical well-being.