A Social Life is a Healthy One
Research increasingly confirms that social isolation and loneliness are significant threats to health and longevity, comparable to well-established medical risks like high blood pressure or smoking. Despite this evidence, social connection is still not widely recognized as a critical factor in physical health. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Brigham Young University, has played a leading role in shaping the scientific and public understanding of this issue. She advised the World Health Organization on an upcoming report that aims to establish a global agenda addressing loneliness and social connection as urgent health priorities.
Holt-Lunstad’s research demonstrates a critical gap between scientific knowledge and public perception. In two recently published studies, Holt-Lunstad and doctoral student Andrew Proctor found that both the general population and healthcare providers consistently underestimate the impact of social connection on physical health. Even when providers recognize its importance, many report lacking the time, training, or tools to address social issues with patients.
Proctor was initially inspired to study this question after observing online trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Loneliness, isolation, and social distancing became widely discussed topics, dominating internet searches and media coverage. The researchers wondered whether this heightened visibility had shifted public understanding of the health risks associated with poor social connection. To explore this, they surveyed nearly 2,400 adults from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. The results revealed that, despite increased awareness during the pandemic, most people still undervalue the connection between social relationships and physical health. This underestimation was consistent across both socially connected and lonely individuals.
In parallel, Holt-Lunstad, Proctor, and colleagues surveyed 681 healthcare providers (primarily physicians) to assess whether professionals viewed social connection as a medical issue. The findings mirrored the public’s perceptions: doctors and providers similarly underestimated its significance. This creates what Proctor described as a “blind spot in medical care,” noting that if risks like high blood pressure or smoking had been ignored in the past, public health would have suffered greatly. He argued that social connection should be treated like a “vital sign,” routinely assessed and monitored.
An interesting nuance emerged due to staggered data collection across institutions. Providers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) rated social connection as slightly more important compared to those from the University of Utah Health System. The researchers attributed this difference to UCSF’s institutional initiatives, such as its Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network, as well as the timing of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on loneliness, which had been released shortly before UCSF’s survey. This suggests that awareness campaigns and institutional support can meaningfully shift perceptions.
Holt-Lunstad emphasizes that while awareness is crucial, it is only the first step. The research highlights the need for stronger public health campaigns, updates to healthcare education curricula, and practical strategies to help providers integrate social connection into medical care. Future directions include overcoming barriers in healthcare systems and developing actionable interventions such as “social prescribing,” where providers recommend social engagement as part of treatment. Together, these efforts aim to close the gap between evidence and practice, ensuring social connection is recognized as a vital determinant of health.
Brigham Young University. “Social connection is still underappreciated as a medically relevant health factor.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 May 2025. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522133530.htm.
Boosting Social Well-Being
Social well-being means sharing, developing, and sustaining meaningful connections with others. Benefits can include being comfortable when you are in social situations, increased self-esteem, the ability to create healthy boundaries, and emotional resilience. Without awareness of your social well-being, you risk becoming socially isolated—a withdrawal from human relationships–which can lead to feelings of fear and loneliness.
Loneliness can negatively affect your mental and physical health and increase your mortality risk. A sense of belonging is crucial to the way humans function.
Tips for Managing Social Well-Being
Make connections. You can make connections at any phase of life. Whether you just started a new job, moved to a new state or switched communities, you can work through creating new relationships. A large part of making new connections is getting involved in any social events in your community, whether at work or in your personal life.
Get involved. Find new events or groups to be a part of in your community, whether through a volunteer opportunity at work or a local event. If you’re unsure how to get involved, think of your hobbies. Research events related to your hobbies in the area or try learning something new. Helping others can reduce loneliness, so finding volunteer opportunities can also benefit our social well-being as we make new connections.
Bond with your loved ones. Strong relationships are essential no matter your phase of life. Before building new connections, it’s important to protect and nurture your existing relationships. Spend time with your loved ones without distractions. Unplug and stay engaged.
Invest in yourself. Taking care of yourself before anyone else is crucial when discussing social well-being. If you’re at your best, you can be at your best for your friends, colleagues, and loved ones alike. Consistently prioritizing others’ needs over your own can lead to increased stress.
It’s become more accessible than ever to connect, but it’s also easier to isolate. Socially connecting in person with loved ones and properly caring for your own needs can help you care for your social well-being.
Mental Health & Mental Illness
Mental health is just as prevalent in your life as physical health, even if you don’t realize it. Physical health is the state of your body, while mental health is the state of your mind, feelings, and emotions. Being mentally healthy contributes to feeling, thinking, and acting in ways that help you enjoy life and cope with its challenges. Struggling with mental health may result in unhappiness, unclear thinking, or feeling overwhelmed by stressful situations.
Resilience–the inner strength you use to cope with stressful situations–is a big part of mental health. Being resilient means you can effectively cope with the ups and downs of life. Resilience can help you avoid being overwhelmed by stressful situations, which in turn further builds resilience–giving you the confidence to know you can get through difficult times when they come up again.
While mental health is always there and may be positive or negative, mental illness affects a person’s ability to function over a long period of time. Mental illness is not the same as feeling sad, unhappy, or stressed because of difficult situations. People with mental illness may feel distressed regularly and may not feel in control of their lives. Mental illness can impact how we see ourselves, how we see the world, and how we interact with the world.
It is possible to have good mental health even if you have a mental illness. Many people with mental illness experience tough times, but they can also have periods of better or good mental health.
