They provide us with a sense of connection, purpose, support, and ultimately, better overall health and longevity. Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends and community members are happier, have fewer health problems and live longer. As human beings, social interaction is essential to every aspect of our health. Research shows that having a strong support network or strong community ties promotes emotional and physical health and is an important component of adult life.
Over the years, several studies have been conducted that show the relationship between social support and the quality of physical and psychological health. The benefits of social connections and good mental health are numerous. Proven links include lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more cooperative and trusting relationships. Strong, healthy relationships can also help strengthen your immune system, help you recover from illness, and can even extend your life.
Despite considerable evidence linking social isolation to poor health outcomes, the causal mechanisms are poorly understood. Perceived social support was positively correlated with well-being, before and during the COVID-19 period, but its association with well-being during the COVID-19 period (rCOVID-19 %3D 0.5) was stronger than before the COVID-19 period (r-preCOVID-19, %3D 0.4). This partially supports the possibility that a stronger association between social interactions with close people and well-being during the COVID-19 period, compared to the period before COVID-19, can be attributed to participation in more positive activities with close people during the COVID-19 period than during the period before COVID-19. This understanding could further guide the choice of how to interact with family and partner to maximize the benefits of social interactions despite potential costs. Social ties can be unique in their ability to influence a wide range of health outcomes and to influence health (i.e., cumulative health outcomes) across a lifetime.
Third, the positive association between interaction with close people and well-being was strengthened after the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, a policy focused on social ties can be a cost-effective strategy to improve the health and well-being of the population (McGinnis et al. Social networks refer to the network of social relationships that surround an individual, in particular, to structural characteristics, such as the type and strength of each social relationship. This limited access to interactions from other types of social relationships also explains the negative impact of work relationships on well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Likewise, future attempts to explore more diverse and meaningful relationships would yield more fruitful conclusions. The positive effects of small daily interactions with acquaintances or strangers on well-being may become more evident after the COVID-19 pandemic. In a study with Europeans over 50, Sirven and Debrand (200) found that people who participated in social or community activities were more likely to say that their health was good or very good. This study expanded this line of research by examining the relationship between social interaction and momentary well-being during COVID-19 and comparing the effects before and after the pandemic.
