Studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships have fewer health problems, and live longer. Conversely, a lack of social connections is associated with depression and later-life cognitive decline, as well as with increased mortality.
Evolution, Community & Depression
Social animals have evolved in a manner which ensures that the survival of the individual is dependent on the other members of the group, whether that be a pride of lions or a herd of elephants. Hence individuals feeling cut off from their group are unsurprisingly in a state of high anxiety. In physiological terms they are highly stressed, undergoing physiological and emotional changes.
These changes happen in the hypothalamus, whose job is to maintain the status quo of the body. If things change too much, the hypothalamus directs the endocrine system to try to correct the situation. The endocrine system then produces the hormone Cortisol, the primary stress hormone. It curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation and alters immune system responses, suppressing the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.
Higher and more prolonged levels of stress, and therefore cortisol in the bloodstream, have been shown to have the following negative effect:
- Impaired cognitive performance
- Suppressed thyroid function
- Decreased bone density
- Decrease in muscle tissue
- Higher blood pressure
- Lowered immune system function
- Increased abdominal fat
What makes Social Connections Healthful?
Scientists are investigating the biological and behavioral factors that account for the health benefits of connecting with others. In hospitals it has been found that patients with more visitors heal faster. With heart attack patients, it has been found that the more social support they have when they go home, the more likely they will survive. This is heartening considering caring involvement with others is one of the simplest health strategies, access-wise.
It takes a “VILLAGE”
The proverb “It takes a village to raise a child,” originated on the African continent. It reminds us that we have evolved as individuals with social needs and those needs are best reflected in the community structures of village life – generations of families working together, helping each other, caring for each other, sharing stories and laughter, teaching one another, dealing with tragedies and triumphs together. This web of inter-dependency is the social environment which the human animal, a social animal by definition, is made for. It represents our “ecological niche” and therefore our optimal environment.
A caveat to keep in mind while starting a social circle for ideal wellness is that it is not enough to surround ourselves only with familiar and trusted friends but also friends old and young from varied walks of life; people you can be in a collaborative and cooperative relationship with, which means individuals who are very different from us.
Diversity, relationships and interconnections with many and self-regulation and cooperation between various members of the group are all principles of ecology or Nature. We can well say that these are principles of well being for both individuals and human families, groups and communitites.
References:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships
http://wyldenaturalhealthteam.com/wylde-natural-health-team/we-get-better-together-community-relationships-and-wellness/
https://socialwellness.wordpress.com/
Leave a Reply