The power of social relationships for a longer and healthier life
A meta-analysis has shown that close social ties are key to reducing mortality, and have an even greater impact than some well-known factors such as smoking.
The power of social relationships for a longer and healthier life
Social relationships can halve mortality risk
Quality social relationships are one of the most important factors for a long and healthy life. A meta-analysis by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Timothy B. Smith and J. Bradley Layton, showed that social ties are key to reducing mortality. The study, which included data from more than 300,000 participants, revealed that people with strong social relationships have on average a 50% lower risk of premature mortality compared to those who are socially isolated.
The significance of these findings goes beyond expectations: social isolation increases the risk of mortality as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, with a greater impact than obesity or physical inactivity. This underlines that social relationships are one of the most powerful factors in maintaining health and longevity.
Genuine relationships are the basis for a good and fulfilling life.
Quality is more important than quantity. Focus on the relationships that fulfil you.
Quality relationships reduce stress reactions and boost immunity
Social relationships not only affect psychological well-being, but also physiological processes in the body. Positive interactions reduce stress hormone levels, improve immune function and help regulate blood pressure. In contrast, loneliness and isolation pose a risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, depression and dementia.
In addition to emotional support, close relationships have practical benefits. People with strong social networks are more likely to follow health recommendations, visit the doctor regularly and stick to a healthy lifestyle.
Which relationships are most important?
The research reveals important aspects of the impact of social relationships on health. A wider social network was associated with lower mortality, but the quality of relationships is more important than their number. Family relationships, friendships and relationships with colleagues all contribute to better health outcomes, with those involving emotional closeness being the most protective. In addition, high levels of support were associated with greater resilience to stress and better overall health, while chronic loneliness increased the risk of mortality by 29%, regardless of lifestyle or health status.
How to improve social ties?
Despite the fast pace of modern life, there are simple ways to strengthen social relationships:
- Vzdržujte redne stike: Redno srečevanje s prijatelji ali družinskimi člani lahko pomembno prispeva k boljšemu počutju.
- Razvijajte nove povezave: Pridružite se interesnim skupinam ali prostovoljskim organizacijam, kjer boste srečali ljudi s podobnimi vrednotami.
- Učite se aktivnega poslušanja: Pristna pozornost med pogovorom krepi občutek povezanosti in zaupanja.
- Postavljajte meje: Kakovost je pomembnejša od kvantitete. Osredotočite se na odnose, ki vas izpolnjujejo.
Positive interactions reduce stress hormone levels, improve immune function and help regulate blood pressure.
Importance for longevity
The results clearly show that social relationships are a key factor in maintaining health and longevity. Their role goes beyond psychological support, as they positively influence physiological processes that are essential for the prevention of chronic diseases. By maintaining quality relationships, individuals strengthen their resilience to stress, improve their immune response and support the stability of the cardiovascular system.
It is therefore essential to integrate social ties into longevity strategies. Genuine relationships are not just about instant gratification, but about maintaining long-term health and vitality, which is the basis for a good and fulfilling life.
Prevention strategies can be very effective in reducing the risk of developing dementia