Hannah Baillie, Editor in Chief, 90Second Health Paula Forgeron, RN, PhD, Nursing Advisor, 90Second Nurse Wellbeing Patrick McGrath, OC, PhD, FRSC, Principal Scientist, 90Second Health
How to nurture social connections
How to nurture social connections ...
Social connections are important
Social connections are the relationships you have with the people around you. These connections may be strong like the relationship you have with a best friend. They can also be distant like the relationship you have with an acquaintance.
People who are socially connected feel more content, fulfilled and supported. People who are not socially connected can be more prone to physical illness, loneliness and depression. Social connection is more than just having a lot of friends. The quality of relationships and the function they serve are also important. Having one or two good friends is often enough to provide a strong social connection.
Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, social connection is good for your physical and mental health.
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CALL TO ACTION...
Make quick connections
Short moments of personal connection are important. Make eye contact with people you meet in the hospital elevator. Say "hello" to a stranger at the bus stop, or chat with the cashier at the cafeteria.
Join a group
Join an exercise class, a book club or volunteer for a committee at work. Doing activities that you enjoy will connect you with other like-minded people and improve your social connections.
Cultivate friendships through disclosure
Best friends often feel comfortable talking openly with each other about personal things. This is called "disclosure". Disclosure is an important part of close relationships. Strong social connections are often formed when talking about struggles, successes and everything in-between. Disclosure between close friends needs to be mutual. Telling your deepest secrets to a casual friend often does not work well. If you find that you are always the one disclosing, you may want to encourage your friend to open up and disclose more.
Develop close friendships
Making close friends takes time and a bit of luck. Shared experiences help to build close friendships. Work, leisure or family experiences can also bring you closer together with others. Shared values are helpful, but not essential. Close friends are people you know and trust. You will be there for them, and they will be there for you.
Social connections are important
Social connections are the relationships you have with the people around you. These connections may be strong like the relationship you have with a best friend. They can also be distant like the relationship you have with an acquaintance.
People who are socially connected feel more content, fulfilled and supported. People who are not socially connected can be more prone to physical illness, loneliness and depression. Social connection is more than just having a lot of friends. The quality of relationships and the function they serve are also important. Having one or two good friends is often enough to provide a strong social connection.
Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, social connection is good for your physical and mental health.
Social connections are important
Social connections are the relationships you have with the people around you. These connections may be strong like the relationship you have with a best friend. They can also be distant like the relationship you have with an acquaintance.
People who are socially connected feel more content, fulfilled and supported. People who are not socially connected can be more prone to physical illness, loneliness and depression. Social connection is more than just having a lot of friends. The quality of relationships and the function they serve are also important. Having one or two good friends is often enough to provide a strong social connection.
Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, social connection is good for your physical and mental health.
CALL TO ACTION
Make quick connections
Short moments of personal connection are important. Make eye contact with people you meet in the hospital elevator. Say "hello" to a stranger at the bus stop, or chat with the cashier at the cafeteria.
Join a group
Join an exercise class, a book club or volunteer for a committee at work. Doing activities that you enjoy will connect you with other like-minded people and improve your social connections.
Cultivate friendships through disclosure
Best friends often feel comfortable talking openly with each other about personal things. This is called "disclosure". Disclosure is an important part of close relationships. Strong social connections are often formed when talking about struggles, successes and everything in-between. Disclosure between close friends needs to be mutual. Telling your deepest secrets to a casual friend often does not work well. If you find that you are always the one disclosing, you may want to encourage your friend to open up and disclose more.
Develop close friendships
Making close friends takes time and a bit of luck. Shared experiences help to build close friendships. Work, leisure or family experiences can also bring you closer together with others. Shared values are helpful, but not essential. Close friends are people you know and trust. You will be there for them, and they will be there for you.
Social connections are important
Social connections are the relationships you have with the people around you. These connections may be strong like the relationship you have with a best friend. They can also be distant like the relationship you have with an acquaintance.
People who are socially connected feel more content, fulfilled and supported. People who are not socially connected can be more prone to physical illness, loneliness and depression. Social connection is more than just having a lot of friends. The quality of relationships and the function they serve are also important. Having one or two good friends is often enough to provide a strong social connection.
Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, social connection is good for your physical and mental health.
CALL TO ACTION
Make quick connections
Short moments of personal connection are important. Make eye contact with people you meet in the hospital elevator. Say "hello" to a stranger at the bus stop, or chat with the cashier at the cafeteria.
Join a group
Join an exercise class, a book club or volunteer for a committee at work. Doing activities that you enjoy will connect you with other like-minded people and improve your social connections.
Cultivate friendships through disclosure
Best friends often feel comfortable talking openly with each other about personal things. This is called "disclosure". Disclosure is an important part of close relationships. Strong social connections are often formed when talking about struggles, successes and everything in-between. Disclosure between close friends needs to be mutual. Telling your deepest secrets to a casual friend often does not work well. If you find that you are always the one disclosing, you may want to encourage your friend to open up and disclose more.
Develop close friendships
Making close friends takes time and a bit of luck. Shared experiences help to build close friendships. Work, leisure or family experiences can also bring you closer together with others. Shared values are helpful, but not essential. Close friends are people you know and trust. You will be there for them, and they will be there for you.
Social connections are important
Social connections are the relationships you have with the people around you. These connections may be strong like the relationship you have with a best friend. They can also be distant like the relationship you have with an acquaintance.
People who are socially connected feel more content, fulfilled and supported. People who are not socially connected can be more prone to physical illness, loneliness and depression. Social connection is more than just having a lot of friends. The quality of relationships and the function they serve are also important. Having one or two good friends is often enough to provide a strong social connection.
Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, social connection is good for your physical and mental health.
CALL TO ACTION
Make quick connections
Short moments of personal connection are important. Make eye contact with people you meet in the hospital elevator. Say "hello" to a stranger at the bus stop, or chat with the cashier at the cafeteria.
Join a group
Join an exercise class, a book club or volunteer for a committee at work. Doing activities that you enjoy will connect you with other like-minded people and improve your social connections.
Cultivate friendships through disclosure
Best friends often feel comfortable talking openly with each other about personal things. This is called "disclosure". Disclosure is an important part of close relationships. Strong social connections are often formed when talking about struggles, successes and everything in-between. Disclosure between close friends needs to be mutual. Telling your deepest secrets to a casual friend often does not work well. If you find that you are always the one disclosing, you may want to encourage your friend to open up and disclose more.
Develop close friendships
Making close friends takes time and a bit of luck. Shared experiences help to build close friendships. Work, leisure or family experiences can also bring you closer together with others. Shared values are helpful, but not essential. Close friends are people you know and trust. You will be there for them, and they will be there for you.
ASSESSMENT
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ASSESSMENT
Please fill out and submit your assessment.
ASSESSMENT
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assessment, when selecting options, 1 is false, 5 is true.1. Introverts don't need social connection.please select an option..2. It is more important to have lots of friends than to have close friendships.please select an option..3. All extroverts have strong social connections.please select an option..4. Talking openly or disclosing things makes me look weak.please select an option..5. Relying on others is a sign of weakness.please select an option..7. Social connection can only come from people you know well.please select an option..6. It is okay if others open up to me, but I will not open up to them.please select an option..
Please submit the form to get your assessment.
Personal Story. Personal Story.
As a nurse who works 12-hour shifts, it can be hard to make time for friendships. I also have a young family. I'm responsible for after-school activities, and there is always lots of housework to do. There is never enough time in the day to see friends.
This is how I felt for years. But, over time, I began to feel a bit lonely, isolated and depressed. My lack of social connection was definitely affecting me. I decided that I needed to make some changes. I started by setting aside one evening each month to meet up with friends for a book club. I made a real effort to share things that were going on in my life. When I told them I was feeling a bit lonely and isolated, I was surprised to hear that several of them felt the same way.
I began looking for ways to increase social connection in other parts of my life too. At the grocery store I took time to chat with the cashier and the person behind me in line too. I would also make eye contact and smile at strangers that I met as I walked down my street. And guess what? They smiled and said hello. These encounters helped me feel more connected to the world. This helped lift my spirits. Now, these intentional encounters are part of my daily routine.
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PERSONAL STORY
As a nurse who works 12-hour shifts, it can be hard to make time for friendships. I also have a young family. I'm responsible for after-school activities, and there is always lots of housework to do. There is never enough time in the day to see friends.
This is how I felt for years. But, over time, I began to feel a bit lonely, isolated and depressed. My lack of social connection was definitely affecting me. I decided that I needed to make some changes. I started by setting aside one evening each month to meet up with friends for a book club. I made a real effort to share things that were going on in my life. When I told them I was feeling a bit lonely and isolated, I was surprised to hear that several of them felt the same way.
I began looking for ways to increase social connection in other parts of my life too. At the grocery store I took time to chat with the cashier and the person behind me in line too. I would also make eye contact and smile at strangers that I met as I walked down my street. And guess what? They smiled and said hello. These encounters helped me feel more connected to the world. This helped lift my spirits. Now, these intentional encounters are part of my daily routine.
Holt-Lunstad J, Robles TF, Sbarra DA. Advancing social connection as a public health priority in the United States. Am Psychol. 2017;72(6):517-530. doi:10.1037/amp0000103
Lee, R. M., Draper, M., & Lee, S. (2001). Social connectedness, dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors, and psychological distress: Testing a mediator model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48(3), 310–318. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.48.3.310
PERSONAL STORY
As a nurse who works 12-hour shifts, it can be hard to make time for friendships. I also have a young family. I'm responsible for after-school activities, and there is always lots of housework to do. There is never enough time in the day to see friends.
This is how I felt for years. But, over time, I began to feel a bit lonely, isolated and depressed. My lack of social connection was definitely affecting me. I decided that I needed to make some changes. I started by setting aside one evening each month to meet up with friends for a book club. I made a real effort to share things that were going on in my life. When I told them I was feeling a bit lonely and isolated, I was surprised to hear that several of them felt the same way.
I began looking for ways to increase social connection in other parts of my life too. At the grocery store I took time to chat with the cashier and the person behind me in line too. I would also make eye contact and smile at strangers that I met as I walked down my street. And guess what? They smiled and said hello. These encounters helped me feel more connected to the world. This helped lift my spirits. Now, these intentional encounters are part of my daily routine.
Holt-Lunstad J, Robles TF, Sbarra DA. Advancing social connection as a public health priority in the United States. Am Psychol. 2017;72(6):517-530. doi:10.1037/amp0000103
Lee, R. M., Draper, M., & Lee, S. (2001). Social connectedness, dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors, and psychological distress: Testing a mediator model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48(3), 310–318. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.48.3.310
PERSONAL STORY
As a nurse who works 12-hour shifts, it can be hard to make time for friendships. I also have a young family. I'm responsible for after-school activities, and there is always lots of housework to do. There is never enough time in the day to see friends.
This is how I felt for years. But, over time, I began to feel a bit lonely, isolated and depressed. My lack of social connection was definitely affecting me. I decided that I needed to make some changes. I started by setting aside one evening each month to meet up with friends for a book club. I made a real effort to share things that were going on in my life. When I told them I was feeling a bit lonely and isolated, I was surprised to hear that several of them felt the same way.
I began looking for ways to increase social connection in other parts of my life too. At the grocery store I took time to chat with the cashier and the person behind me in line too. I would also make eye contact and smile at strangers that I met as I walked down my street. And guess what? They smiled and said hello. These encounters helped me feel more connected to the world. This helped lift my spirits. Now, these intentional encounters are part of my daily routine.
Holt-Lunstad J, Robles TF, Sbarra DA. Advancing social connection as a public health priority in the United States. Am Psychol. 2017;72(6):517-530. doi:10.1037/amp0000103
Lee, R. M., Draper, M., & Lee, S. (2001). Social connectedness, dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors, and psychological distress: Testing a mediator model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48(3), 310–318. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.48.3.310
