Connections Help Us Live Longer and Healthier

Forming relationships and engaging with others helps us feel good and gives us a sense of bigger purpose. But recent research confirms what scientists first discovered in the 1960s: connecting to other people – no matter how deep that connection may be – leads to longer and healthier lifespans across all demographics.

This recent BBC article by David Robson gives a great overview of the decades of research that led to his new book, The Laws of Connection, and outlines how social connection can boost your immune system and prevent major diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, even after accounting for all other factors that can affect health.

“[Even] casual acquaintances at church or a bowling club helped to stave off the grim reaper…. extensive research has confirmed that connection and loneliness influence our susceptibility to many diverse diseases.”

In 2010, researchers compiled 148 studies about social connection to uncover trends. Of the many findings, the biggest one is clear: the quality and quantity of connections in a person's life outmatched nearly all other accepted factors in determining health outcomes, including alcohol consumption, exercise, and air pollution. If you’ve been to your doctor for a checkup lately, you’ve likely been asked some questions about your mental health and how you feel about yourself and the people around you. That’s because even the most traditional medical practitioners understand that people thrive in community and connecting to others is a key indicator of our overall wellbeing. The World Health Organization has recognized this as a top priority and created the Commission on Social Connection, a team of medical professionals who will spend the next 3 years creating a global agenda with proven solutions that can scale around the world.

Many articles and research abstracts focus on personal connections, but the science holds up for any type of connection – personal, professional, casual acquaintance, etc. And it’s clear that those who struggle to connect with others on any level will suffer consequences as a result.

We became acutely aware of the need for connection at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when people felt more isolated than ever. We quickly came up with strategies and solutions to stay connected not just to our families, but to our colleagues, neighbors, and even strangers. Zoom happy hours and coffee catchups became the norm, and enrollment in online classes and social groups skyrocketed. We realized that connecting doesn’t necessarily require face to face interaction to be authentic and redeeming, but sometimes there’s no substitution for being around other people. We found ways to social distance from one another while still staying connected in green spaces, parking lots, beaches, and beyond. Just as we inherently know what we should eat or how we should exercise to keep us healthy, the pandemic shined a bright light on our innate need to connect with each other for our survival.

David’s book also dives into the cognitive biases that prevent us from forming connections and gives some tips and strategies for overcoming those barriers. This is the crux of the work that we do here at The Connectors – helping people cultivate the skills and tools they need to become better connectors themselves. I know how important connecting is to move ideas forward and create impact, and I understand the value that our vast networks bring to our lives. It’s refreshing to see such clear evidence that this work is – quite literally – life changing and potentially lifesaving, and these findings propel me to work even harder to equip people with these skills.

If you’d like help unlocking the ways you can form connections in your life, company, or community, you can schedule a complimentary consultation with me or email anytime at hello@theconnectors.net.