Image credit: Paul Cusick via Unsplash
Happy Valentine’s day from OneNature! Last year we spoke about the impact of social connectedness on well-being. This year, on a similar note, we’ve decided to dive deeper into the linkages between well-being and our connecting with others. There are many health benefits of strong, healthy, and good relationships, whether romantic, platonic, or familial. Healthy connections can positively impact our mental health, our physical health, and our society.
Mental Health Benefits
The impact of relationships on mental health is by far the most substantial benefit. Following the global pandemic, literature discussing the connection between mental health and social connectedness became abundant. Social connection is not just the connection between a specific person or group of people; it also refers to the ability to connect in general. Without this connection, as we saw during the pandemic, which brought about isolation, feelings of hopelessness and despair, and an increase in psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
According to an article by Werner-Seidler, et al. based on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being, the greater the quality of social connection, the lower the chance of developing depression and anxiety. Platonic and family relationships and support are critically essential in combatting depression. The odds of developing depression and anxiety in those without familial and platonic support are three times greater than that of their counterparts.
By forging connections with friends and family, we can support our mental health and diminish our odds of developing conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Physical Health Benefits
Along with the mental health benefits, strong relationships can actually positively impact our physical health. As discussed previously, social connections can decrease anxiety. Anxiety plays a significant role in physical health. It can cause cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal issues, insomnia, muscle tension, and other issues. By clearing the source of the problem, anxiety, you can be rid of the physical issues.
Social connections can also provide us with an outlet to vent frustrations that would otherwise get bottled up and negatively impact us. This can ultimately reduce stress levels due to the safety and support that successful and strong relationships provide us with. This can lead to a healthier immune system as well. 80% of our immune cells are located in our gut. This means that our gut microbiome can have a positive or negative effect on our immune system. Social connectedness can improve the diversity of our gut microbiome, ultimately ridding the body of an abundance of disease-causing bacteria and creating a healthier gut.
Societal Benefits
Social connectedness not only helps us create positive relationships, but it also forges productive and active communities, ultimately benefiting society. A community is only as strong as the relationships that it’s made up of. Being friendly with your peers and neighbors can help you create new relationships with those around you, developing a sense of community that only gets stronger.
Developing and growing connections are the lifeblood of a strong community. Community relations are how communities and businesses develop meaningful and symbiotic relationships. A community with strong community relations can push local businesses to be ethically and civically responsible and positively impact the community as a whole.
We at OneNature hope you had a great valentine’s day. It’s important that we take some time to remember how important our friends and family are and the impact these relationships have on our well-being. So, this year remember that healthy relationships can lead to a healthy life!