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Social Relations and Health

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Explaining Health Across the Sciences

Part of the book series: Healthy Ageing and Longevity ((HAL,volume 12))

Abstract

In humans, relationships are of the utmost importance for their physical, psychological, and social functioning and well-being. As reviewed in this chapter, there is considerable evidence to suggest that (a) social relations that provide instrumental and emotional support may (b) buffer negative health-related consequences of stress, by (c) protecting against stress and stimulating positive emotions and health-promoting behaviors, that (d) stimulate adaptive immune function and reduce inflammation, thereby (e) reducing the risk and prognosis of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other inflammatory conditions, and (f) promoting longevity. Not only do people benefit from receiving social support from others, but there is also promising research suggesting that altruistic behaviors, i.e., providing social support to others, may be associated with improved health outcomes. Future research is needed to disentangle the complex associations between the societal context, social relations, biological mechanisms, health-related behaviors, and health outcomes, which, if they can be identified, could translate into effective preventions and treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology and Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University Hospital, Bartholin’s Alle 11, Bld. 1350, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark

    Robert Zachariae

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  1. Philosophy and History of Ideas, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Jonathan Sholl

  2. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Suresh I.S. Rattan

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Zachariae, R. (2020). Social Relations and Health. In: Sholl, J., Rattan, S.I. (eds) Explaining Health Across the Sciences. Healthy Ageing and Longevity, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52663-4_22

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