Many previous studies have shown that loneliness causes early death. Even psychologists are worried about the instruments by which social connections and close individual affect health.
The study represents state-of-art work on the central issues in the study of close relationships and health. Scientists collected the data from two areas of scientific inquiry i.e., relationship science and health psychology.
Healthy and close relationships have a positive effect on both physical and mental health. Scientists focused on topics like how healthy relationships early in life affect physical and mental health in childhood and beyond, the role of intimate relationships in coronary heart disease, the need to focus on partners when treating someone with the chronic disease, and the increasingly complex biological pathways involved linking relationships to health.
The main challenge was to cultivate current and future knowledge into interventions. This will improve social relationships for the benefit of physical and mental health.
The issue involves various articles. Among the articles,
1. Advancing Social Connection as a Public Health Priority in the United States
This study highlights the strength and promise of appointing close relationships as a public health priority. Being in high-quality close relationships and feeling socially connected are associated with decreased risk of mortality.
Authors suggest, instead of giving importance to the social connection for good health, many government agencies and health care providers are failing to recognize social connection as a public health priority.
Scientists did deep research on developing interventions to improve social connection. They have offered suggestions on how to integrate social relationships into public health priorities.
2. Interpersonal Mechanisms Linking Close Relationships to Health
This study highlight how interpersonal processes influence well-being and sickness. For instance, in stressful conditions, healthy relationship can protect against negative effects. On the other side, a healthy relationship can foster positive emotions during more peaceful times.
3. Incorporating the Cultural Diversity of Family and Close Relationships into the Study of Health
This study highlight potential effects of cultural diversity on close relationships. Here, scientists explored two different cultures and highlight how relationships, and the link of relationships with health, can vary by culture. Although, a good understanding of cultural variation informs, how individuals perceive their relationships, what they expect from them and how relationships affect health.
According to researchers, consideration of cultural variation increase social connections and benefit all people as well.
4. Childhood Close Family Relationships and Health
Childhood relationships can have important ramifications for health across the life span. Such relationships are linked to better physical health from infancy to adulthood.
Here, scientists family relationships play a vital role in protecting against the health effects of childhood adversity.
5. Close Social Ties and Health in Later Life: Strengths and Vulnerabilities
This study highlights the strength and weaknesses of social ties later in life. Here, scientists have described changing demographic trends. It merely involves the increased reliance on non-family members for social support.
6. Intimate Relationships, Individual Adjustment, and Coronary Heart Disease: Implications of Overlapping Associations in Psychosocial Risk
This study highlights the role of intimate relationships in coronary heart disease. According to scientists, being married or in a similarly intimate relationship generally, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.
However, the quality of these relationships matter, as strained or disrupted relationships are associated with an increased risk. Relationship quality as a risk factor is often studied separately from individual personality and emotional risk factors for heart disease, such as anger or depression, but these factors can also affect the quality of the relationship.
7. Integrative Pathways Linking Close Family Ties to Health: A Neurochemical Perspective
The study suggests the quality of one’s family life is linked to physical health. This study provides an essential link to refine theoretical models and understand the biological mechanisms involved.
Here, scientists used oxytocin system to determine how complex biological pathways can link positive and negative family relationships to physical health.
Oxytocin inhibits release of the hormone cortisol and reduces the negative effects of stress. If testing it on animal models, scientists found, it can prevent Cardiovascular disease.