Strengthening Your Social Network

Excerpt from Living Independently in Your Later Years, a Harvard Medical School Special Health Report. For more information or to order, please go to http://www.health.harvard.edu/LI.)

According to researchers for the MacArthur Foundation Study of Successful Aging, the strongest predictors of well-being among older adults are the frequency of visits with friends and attendance at meetings of clubs and organizations. And these connections carry real health benefits, too. In 1999, the British Medical Journal reported that older people who were least likely to attend church, travel, or seek out other social activities suffered 20% higher mortality from all causes than those who socialized the most. A 12-year study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that fewer social ties added up to a greater likelihood of cognitive impairment. Religious activities deserve special mention. Some research indicates that members of religious congregations have a slower onset of physical disability, and an international study of nearly 170,000 men and women in 14 countries reported that religious affiliation and attendance at services increased the likelihood of happiness and satisfaction.

For many people, the most obvious bonds are with a spouse and other family members, as well as friends and acquaintances. But the links woven into your social network don’t need to be only human. Some people feel refreshed by connections with the natural world, for example, through gardening or birding. Pets are another well-known source of love and support.