Social Connection and Good Health
People with strong perceptions of community belongingness are 2.6 times more likely to report good or excellent health than people with a low sense of belongingness. 1, 2
People with strong perceptions of community belongingness are 2.6 times more likely to report good or excellent health than people with a low sense of belongingness. 1, 2
Children and adolescents who enjoy positive relationships with their peers, parents, and teachers experience improved academic outcomes. 1, 2
Children who participate in early childhood development achieve higher education and make more money as adults. 1
Immersion in local community-based activities such as volunteering significantly increases the likelihood of unemployed individuals becoming employed. 1, 2, 3
Spending time around trees and looking at trees reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and improves mood by reducing the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline. 1, 2
Adults who report feeling lonely often are more than twice as likely to develop depression as adults who report rarely or never feeling lonely. 1, 2
Social support from friends and family is associated with improved hypertension and diabetes management. 1, 2, 3, 4
Poor social relationships, social isolation, and loneliness can increase your risk of heart disease by 29% and risk of stroke by 32%. 1, 2
Smaller social network size is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and of other diabetic complications including heart attacks and kidney disease. 1, 2, 3
Global studies find there is a 9% increase in hourly earnings for every extra year of schooling a child receives. 1