Social Connection and Improved Quality of Relationships - An Overview

What Is a Social Relationship?

Social relationships refer to the individual's involvement in formal or informal relations, such as having terms with friends, co-workers, religious institutions, etc. Everybody wants to feel happy and better. Where does this happiness come from? Social relationships have a crucial impact on our mental, physical and psychological health, be it a short-term or long-term effect. It affects all the age groups such as kids, teenagers, adults, and middle and old-age people. Relationships are also associated with our strongest emotions (sadness and happiness).

What Is Social Isolation?

Social isolation is the absence of social relationships. The word isolation means remaining alone or apart from others. When you disconnect from people, you feel isolated socially.

Role of Social Connections in Building a Relationship:

Social connections are the bond we have with people around us. We have relationships at school, at college, at work, at home, in society, or anywhere. Good social connections have a positive impact on our health. We feel joy, pleasure, and calmness. When we do not have good terms with others, it may result in anxiety, a feeling of loneliness, and depression.

Surrounded by good people makes one happy and leaves us with positivity.

Human - A Social Animal:

Have you ever thought about why we have been named social animals?

We humans can not live our lives without interactions. We appreciate being in constant touch. We want people to talk with, nature to amuse us, and social media to know every update. It reflects the role of other people in our happiness. People have an inborn desire to form and maintain relationships. Good social connections make people healthier, happier, and even live longer. Thus, it is rightly said that the default mode of human nature is social.

Everything we are doing now lacks importance if we exclude people.

• Will you write a blog in the absence of a reader?

• Will you post a photograph if nobody sees it?

Every individual needs connection and socialization. And without this, life seems incomplete.

Recall one of your best memories. Now, remember the day when you felt low?

The time - when you felt high or low, those moments most likely involved other people.

Connections and the Role They Play:

Everyone in this world wants to be happy. We study, go to college, office, anything we do, our ultimate goal is happiness. Let us see how people make us happy or sad? Connecting with others is rewarding. People with strong and healthy relationships deal best with challenging situations and feel less stressed compared to people who do not have a support system.

Social Connection - A Feedback Loop:

The more you connect, the happier you feel. If you want to be happy, focus on your relationships. Socially active people tend to have stronger relationships and are more likely to have positive experiences in their lives. Not having a social life (social isolation) leads to stress, loneliness, and a greater risk of health issues. Good relationships encourage good behaviors, improved mood, and overall well-being. Social connectivity develops a positive feedback loop. Our social, emotional, and physical well-being is directly related to our social life.

Lack of attachment is directly related to health issues. They are more likely to suffer from elevated stress levels and hence more affect our mental health. But a bad relationship is worse than being isolated. Hence, surround yourself with people wisely because they impact your total well-being. When people around you are happy and enjoy your company, they will want to spend time with you. In this way, a positive feedback loop is cycled.

How Do Relationships Affect Health?

A social relationship has a lasting effect on health.

It affects the health through the following pathways-

1. Behavioral.

2. Psychosocial.

3. Physiological.

1. Behavioral Ties: Health behaviors such as exercise and a balanced diet promotes overall wellness. Whereas smoking, drug abuse, and alcohol consumption tend to undermine health.

Formal and informal social ties leave a positive impact on health.

2. Psychosocial Ties:

Psychosocial mechanisms include -

• Social Support: A feeling of being loved and cared for. When you are listened to and given importance, it affects your mental and physical health. It reduces stress and nurtures a sense of meaning and purpose in life.

• Personal Control: Our actions determine the outcome of our life. Social ties enhance our control.

• Symbolic Meaning: Marriage and family relationships induce a greater sense of responsibility, promoting healthier relationships.

• Mental Health: Mental health deeply involves physical health. The World health organization recognizes mental health as a fundamental dimension of overall health status.

3. Physiological Ties: Supportive social connections trigger the physiological mechanism in the body. It reduces blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol (stress hormone) and benefits the immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular functions.

Friends - The Chosen Family

Family is where people live as a unit and share a feeling of love, respect, care, ups and downs, high keys, and low keys. We do not pretend amongst them and live the way we are. Friends are those people - whom we choose to share our emotions, with whom we can be who we are, who are supposed to be our support system and stand with us in all our events and odds. Evidence shows a thorough impact of friendship on our overall health. The level of subjective well-being rises with the number of people an individual can trust, with whom crucial matters and problems can be discussed and vice versa. Friends form a crucial part of life and act as strong pillars.

The Dark Side of Social Relationships

While social relationships act as emotional support for some, they can be stressful to others.

The best example is - marriage. If it is stressful, it breaks the person mentally, physically, and psychologically. It can cause anxiety and stress, a compromised immune function, and harms mental health. Stress contributes to hypertension (high blood pressure), tachycardia (increased heart rate), and other health-related issues. It directs people into unhealthy lifestyles such as heavy drinking, smoking, and drugs to cope with it.

Loneliness and Its Effect on Health;

Loneliness is being alone. Social isolation is a causative factor in some people, while others might feel alone even in the presence of people. Loneliness and social isolation are serious health risks leading to an increased risk of dementia and other medical issues in the elderly.

Health risks associated with loneliness:

• Smoking and alcohol consumption may lead to premature death.

• Disrupted sleep patterns and elevated blood pressure.

• Increased risk of dementia.

• Poor heart health and risk of strokes.

• Higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide.

However, it is necessary to understand that loneliness is different from isolation. Feeling lonely is a problem, but being alone is not a problem. Many people, who live alone, lead happy lives.

What Are Some Tips to Improve Social Connection?

Feeling lonely is a little challenging, but one can cope with it. Try talking to people, spend time with your friends or family, make new friends, and enjoy a walk.

We have three types of connections with people.

1. Intimate Connection: The relationships we have with family and friends.

2. Relational Connection: The people we regularly come in contact with or share common interests.

3. Collective Connection: The group of people who have the same association or membership as you have.

If you want to abandon this feeling of loneliness, try reaching out to people you know, call them, write a text message, go out to have meals, or enjoy concerts. Stay in touch through social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, etc.

If you want to get in touch with new people:

• Start a conversation with people you see every day, at the gym or park. Join a sport or hobby group.

Do not become hopeless if this does not work for you. Everybody has a different approach. Try multiple strategies to see which one works best for you. The idea of social connectivity is to share your time, experience, and memories with others and listen to what they say. It will ultimately add people in your life who will think and care for you. It would act as positive reinforcement for your well-being.

Conclusion:

Many people love social interaction and socializing. Qualitative social relationships help them live a longer, healthier, and happier life. Friends and social connections provide them with satisfaction and comfort. Being lonely can affect the overall well-being. Older people who remain in social connections live a better life, while those surrounded by loneliness face health-related issues such as heart disease, dementia, etc. Thus, social connection improves the quality of relationships.