HJNO Mar/Apr 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS  I  MAR / APR 2021 49 Jan Kasofsky, PhD Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health & Human Services Access Health Louisiana morbidity and advanced age of mortality. Social connectedness accounts for infor- mal social supports such as participa- tion in group activities like belonging to a krewe, choir, sorority or fraternity, a house of worship, family cohesion and shared interest groups. These connections can modulate your health through behaviors such as other people encouraging healthy lifestyle choices or encouraging you to fol- low up with your healthcare provider; they can also act biochemically and increase the release of hormones and other factors in your body that contribute to your phys- ical health. We know that social connectedness has been disrupted for many due to the pres- ence of COVID-19 in our communities, but past measures of the problem of loneliness in the United States among people over 60 years old, indicate that between 20-43% experience frequent or intense loneliness. In a study performed in the United States and Britain in 2018, 20% said they often or always feel lonely. Clearly, the known shrinkage of social networks due to age and the impact of months in quarantine will have a serious impact beyond the pan- demic itself. Social science research links social con- nectedness with a 50% reduction of ear- ly death (Holt-Lunstad et al.). Published data done by this same research team over the past several years benchmarked social connectedness to decreased health risk. The data from a meta-analysis study- ing the influence of social connectedness across 308,849 individuals followed for an average of 7.5 years indicate that individu- als with adequate social relationships have a 50% greater likelihood of survival com- pared to those with poor or insufficient social relationships. The magnitude of this effect was comparable with quitting smok- ing, and it exceeded many well-known risk factors for mortality (e.g., obesity, physical inactivity). While this study cannot prove a cause and effect benefit since there are sure to be many more factors to consid- er, there is interest in refining the data to provide a clearer understanding of non- medical approaches to preventive and health-promoting interventions. The literature connecting lack of social connectedness to poor health outcomes led the World Health Organization to list “social support networks” as a determi- nant of health and the United Kingdom’s minister of health to establish loneliness as a health priority, both in 2015. Social connectedness is not presently seen as a health determinant in the United States, largely due to the newness of the empirical research required before it can be deter- mined to be a public health priority. Vivek Murthy, MD, the 19th and current nominee for the 21st Surgeon General of the United States, has for years noted a large population struggling with loneliness and a strong relationship between social isolation and a person’s poorer health. He has posted numerous YouTube videos and published books on the subject. It is antic- ipated that in his role in the new adminis- tration, he will work to implement some of the same public health strategies being identified in the U.K. This may include ex- panding integrated care, which places so- cial workers in clinics and doctors’ offices to link individuals to local organizations, more public areas with seating to promote social interactions and implementing ap- proaches that make it easier for people to have pets and take opportunities for group dog-walking or community gardening. In the U.K., grants were released to encour- age community conversations among lo- cal gardening, birdwatching, dog-walking and other groups to expand their outreach to new members. As we look forward with optimism for 2021 and returning to a more normal, post- COVID-19 life, I hope we can more fully appreciate the joy and importance of our connections and assist those looking to connect more with us and others. n “Social science research links social connectedness with a 50% reduction of early death.”