Invest in getting enough social connection

Confidence

Quality of Evidence

The evidence supporting the importance of regular and frequent social interaction is of moderate quality. Numerous studies consistently show that regular social interactions, particularly with close and meaningful relationships, are linked to better mental health, reduced risk of depression, improved cognitive function, and longer lifespan. The evidence is robust across various populations and settings, demonstrating the critical role of social connection in overall wellbeing. While most evidence comes from observational studies, the consistency of findings across different contexts supports the strength of this evidence. Of course, more detailed research, controlling for quality of time and other aspects of one’s social life continue to be needed to improve our understanding of how investments in various aspects of one’s social life shapes wellbeing. Indeed, little research has explicitly measured the amount of social time needed and how balancing that social time across diverse relationships might influence health and wellbeing.

Balance of Benefits and Harms

The balance of benefits versus harms of investing in regular social connection is strongly in favor of benefits. Regular social interactions provide emotional support, enhance life satisfaction, and contribute to better mental and physical health. The potential harms include the effort required to maintain regular contact and the possibility of social fatigue. Such risks are especially apparent for individuals who find themselves always putting forward more effort than those around them – that could lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and loneliness. However, the guideline’s focus on prioritizing meaningful relationships and being open to new ones helps mitigate potential risks of superficial or unfulfilling interactions and allows individuals to assess for themselves when their social needs are met by different types of interactions. Weighing these benefits and harms, we believe that most individuals will benefit from their efforts to get enough social connection to meet their needs.

Alignment with Values and Preferences

This guideline aligns well with the values and preferences of most individuals, as people generally recognize the importance of maintaining close relationships and regular social interactions. The recommendation to invest in frequent and meaningful social connections resonates with those who value quality relationships and seek to enhance their social wellbeing. Although some individuals may prefer less frequent interactions due to personal or cultural reasons, the guideline’s flexibility allows for adaptation to different social preferences, making it highly acceptable across various contexts.

Feasibility

The feasibility of investing in regular social connection is moderate. While most people can appreciate the value of regular social interactions, practical barriers such as busy schedules, geographic distance, or social anxiety may make it challenging to achieve near-daily interactions. This is especially difficult when considering how multiple people’s schedules must be aligned in order for a social interaction to take place. In order to overcome such barriers, individuals should have an established network and find creative ways to facilitate interactions with those in their networks. Such requirements may make this guideline difficult. However, as prioritization of social interactions becomes more wide-spread, it will be easier for individuals to find opportunities for social interaction and social connection.

Certainty of Recommendation

Based on our assessment of the above criteria, we are confident that investing time and energy into getting enough social connection is important. As with other guidelines, our primary reservations relate to the barriers people face in getting enough social connection, the lack of direct empirical evidence informing how much social time individuals should get, and individual variations in social needs. Nevertheless, we believe the likelihood that additional information or evidence would cause us to reverse this recommendation is low. Future research may allow for better-tailored guidelines on this topic.

Overall Assessment

The overall rating for this guideline is Strong Recommendation, Moderate Quality of Evidence.