The Social Dimension of Health

The social dimension of health consists of our ability to create and maintain positive, nurturing, and meaningful relationships with other human beings, and to positively adapt to diverse social situations.

It is well known that our social relationships have a critical impact in our mental and physical health and well-bring. Just looking at mental health (i.e. depression, anxiety) and mortality rates in those with poor social networks, it is possible to see a increased sense of well-being, mental health and lower mortality rates.

Social health abilities include but are not limited to:

1. Community engagement

2. Capacity to communicate clearly

3. Empathy

4. Social time management

5. Social integration and interdependence

6. Social contribution

7. Supportive friends and family

8. Having someone to talk to when down

Being socially healthy is ever more difficult and yet very important with the social isolation caused by COVID-19. Particularly living in times of an ever high rate of mental health problems worldwide.

Stay tuned for a deeper dive into the social dimension of health in the near-future as soon as the brief description of each dimension is complete.

Jorge A Cevallos, MD