Ep. 167: How Your Friends Can Help You Live Longer
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Did you know that loneliness is associated with health risks as negative as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? When we think of a healthy lifestyle designed to promote longevity, we think of factors like diet, exercise or genetics. Rarely do we consider loneliness as a factor in determining how long we live. Yet according to loneliness expert Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, (pictured above) professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, “social connections have potent influences on health and longevity, and lacking social connection qualifies as a risk factor for premature mortality.”
Here, Dr. Holt-Lunstad joins Medcan MIND station team lead Jennifer Baldachin to explore how social connections promote wellness—with guidance on how to create new relationships.
LINKS
Mental well-being is a critical component of overall wellness. To book an appointment with a psychologist from Medcan’s Mental Well-being program, call 1-416-350-3632 or visit its webpage.
Follow Dr. Holt-Lunstad on Twitter and check out more media and research on her website.
Watch her TEDx talk: Is Social Disconnection Comparable to Smoking?
Read this 2017 NPR article: “Lonely People Report More Severe Cold Symptoms, Study Finds” by Katherine Hobson
Read this 2020 BBC article: “Why your ‘weak-tie’ friendships may mean more than you think” by Ian Leslie
Learn more about the benefits of owning a pet in Eat Move Think episode 116: Can A Dog Improve My Mental Health?
Read some of Dr. Holt-Lunstad’s research on loneliness and social connection:
Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors: The Power of Social Connection in Prevention in American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
Social isolation: An underappreciated determinant of physical health in Current Opinion in Psychology
Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review in PLOS Medicine
INSIGHTS
Dr. Holt-Lunstad began her research on social connections and health when she was in graduate school, more than 20 years before the rest of society became more attuned to mental health concerns. [3:23]
In some ways, the pandemic was beneficial for creating social connections, says Dr. Holt-Lunstad. [7:09]
Learn how feelings of loneliness can lead to physical conditions like chronic inflammation. [10:22]
Dr. Holt-Lunstad suggests creating new connections by making time in your calendar for socializing, the way you would for a workout or a therapy session. [13:55]
What kinds of relationships are best for our health? [21:31]
Learn about the difference between “loneliness” and “isolation.” [24:32]
Do introverts have the same health risks that come from being alone, even if isolation is their preference? [28:38]
What is the “magic number” of relationships you need to be as healthy as possible? [31:10]
Do our relationships with our pets provide health benefits? [32:39]
Learn exactly how and why loneliness is just as bad for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. [36:45]
*LEGAL
This podcast episode is intended to provide general information about health and wellness only and is not designed, or intended to constitute, or be used as a substitute for, medical advice, treatment or diagnosis. You should always talk to your Medcan health care provider for individual medical advice, diagnosis and treatment, including your specific health and wellness needs.
The podcast is based on the information available at the time of preparation and is only accurate and current as of that date. Source information and recommendations are subject to change based on scientific evidence as it evolves over time. Medcan is not responsible for future changes or updates to the information and recommendations, and assumes no obligation to update based on future developments.
Reference to, or mention of, specific treatments or therapies, does not constitute or imply a recommendation or endorsement. The links provided within the associated document are to assist the reader with the specific information highlighted. Any third-party links are not endorsed by Medcan.