How do relationships with others affect people's health?

Support from families, friends and communities is a big contributor to better health. Over the years, several studies have demonstrated that social support networks are positively associated with maintaining good health and a longer life expectancy. A pioneering study in Alameda County in the United States demonstrated in a nine-year follow-up that rates of premature death were higher among people who did not have social ties with family, friends or the community.

Other studies have shown that married people live longer than unmarried people. According to the National Population Health Survey (Data source: 1994/95 and 2000/01), the percentage of seniors who died differed significantly by marital status. For both sexes, the proportion who died was higher for unmarried compared to married individuals.

What causes this relationship between health and social support?

For individuals
It seems there is a link between social support and the ability to respond to and cope with stress effectively. Having support from family, friends and co-workers can help people solve problems and deal better with hardship. It can also help them develop a sense of control over their life circumstances.

Moreover, it is thought that coping with stress and having control boost the immune and nervous systems’ responses that keep us healthy.

For our society
The degree of social cohesion – or civic vitality – in a society is an important determinant of the health of the people who live there. In other words, societies with stable economies, more equal incomes and caring communities have healthier populations.

Beyond a certain level of prosperity, a key factor is how societies choose to distribute the available resources. It appears there is more social cohesion in societies that distribute resources more equitably. These types of societies are made up of members who care about their communities, who are involved in making them a better place to live, and who have basic trust in their fellow human beings.

What can we do to create a more supportive community?

Communities can strengthen social bonds through:

• neighbourhood initiatives (such as "neighbourhood watch" programs and food co-operatives)
• Community housing initiatives (such as Toronto Community Housing http://www.torontohousing.ca/), cooperative housing and the inclusion of community resources such as child care and recreation space in new housing developments
• social development activities, including intergenerational projects and cross-cultural gatherings.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that there is a level of support and security for all members of the community.

References

Berkman, L.F., Breslow, L. Health and Ways of Living: The Alameda County Study. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983. Berkman L. Assessing the physical health effects of social networks and social support. Annual Review of Public Health 1984; 5:413-432.