Mar 30th, 2026
In 2023, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation was published as a U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. The findings and guidance in the advisory draw upon scientific literature and previously published recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Heart Association, and the World Health Organization; and are informed by consultations with subject matter experts from academia, health care, education, government, and more. Due to its profound insight on social connection, we're sharing highlights—across a three-part series—to inform our community and support their wellbeing.
Health & Well-Being
We know that social connection is a significant predictor of longevity and better physical, cognitive, and mental health, while social isolation and loneliness are significant predictors of premature death and poor health. But there's more.
Research also helps to explain how our level of social connection ultimately results in better or worse health—the research is compelling and signals an opportunity to create more socially connected and healthier lives for all of us.
Improve Biological Outcomes
Social connection can influence health through specific biological pathways, including cardiovascular and neuroendocrine dysregulation, immunity, and gut-microbiome interactions. That influence explains the impact on the risk of the development of disease.
Let's take inflammation as one example. Evidence shows that being in isolation can increase inflammation to the same degree as physical inactivity—a negative influence. Chronic inflammation throughout the body has been linked to various chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as a variety of mental, cognitive, and physical health outcomes that increase the risk of premature mortality.
Similarly, we see patterns of the positive influence of social connection on biological systems too. Social connection may reduce the risk of disease by reducing biological system dysregulation. For example, increased levels of social connection can improve various biomarkers of cardiovascular functioning like blood pressure, cardiovascular reactivity, oxidative stress.
"Adults across the globe rate their social relationships, particularly with family and close friends, as the most important source of meaning, purpose, and motivation in their lives."
Improve Psychological Outcomes
Social connection can influence health through psychological processes, such as the sense of meaning and purpose. A sense of meaning positively contributes to health because it motivates greater self-regulation in pursuing goals—including health goals. For example, data shows that people with higher purpose and perceived support from their social networks are more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors like the use of preventive health care services.
Another influence is on the perception of stress, which can impact our biology and behavior because chronic stress can contribute to worsened health outcomes. Higher social connection provides increased opportunities for and access to support, thus reducing the likelihood of perceiving challenges as stressful and helping us better cope with stressful situations. On the other hand, being isolated can increase the likelihood that one perceives potential challenges as more stressful due to less support or fewer resources to draw upon to cope with a situation. In other words, being more socially connected can buffer against stress responses and the negative health effects of stress.
Improve Behaviors
Think of health-related lifestyle behaviors. Social influence can be direct—loved ones encouraging one to get more sleep or reminding one to take their medication—or subtle, through social norms that communicate approval or disapproval of certain behaviors (like vaccination, smoking, exercise). For example, evidence shows that people are far more likely to be physically active if their peers and friends also exercise; they are also less likely to stop smoking if they are in close connection to others who smoke. The takeaway? It's not just the presence of social connection but the nature of the behaviors and norms in one’s social network that influence health-related behaviors.
Opportunity
The benefits of social connection extend beyond the well-being of individuals’ health to quality of life, education, employment, and even economic outcomes. More connected communities benefit from improved population health, improved natural hazard collective preparation and resilience, improved community safety, and greater economic prosperity—for all.
In contrast, the consequences of disconnection in a community can be detrimental. Long-standing systemic disinvestment, inequitable zoning laws, underdeveloped transportation systems, and residential segregation can perpetuate chronic poverty and isolate entire neighborhoods or towns from more prosperous local economies.
The world is just beginning to recognize the vital importance of social connection. If this is an opportunity, the choice for a path forward is clear. One that chooses better lives and creating a better world for all. Such a world, where we recognize that relationships are just as essential to our well-being as the air we breathe, is a world where everyone is healthier, physically and mentally. Next in our series, we explore what actionable steps we can take to enhance social connection so that we can all enjoy its benefits.
Source: Office of U.S. Surgeon General - Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 2023
