Mixed
Higher social integration is associated with lower risk of physiological dysregulation (inflammation, hypertension, obesity) in a dose-response manner across the life span, with effects emerging in adolescence and persisting into old age.
Prioritize maintaining social connections throughout your life, especially during adolescence and old age. Strong social integration acts as a protective factor against inflammation, hypertension, and obesity, with effects comparable to physical activity. In late life, social isolation poses a greater risk for hypertension than having diabetes, highlighting the critical importance of social embeddedness for longevity.
We found that a higher degree of social integration was associated with lower risk of physiological dysregulation in a dose–response manner in both early and later life.
Why this rating
Uses four nationally representative longitudinal samples with objective biomarkers, though observational design limits strict causal inference.
Source
Social relationships and physiological determinants of longevity across the human life span
Yang Claire Yang et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2016
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1511085112
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- Social strain (negative quality of relationships) is a significant predictor of worsening physiological outcomes (inflammation, obesity) in midlife and late adulthood, often more so than social support.Good
- The physiological impact of social relationships varies by life stage, with social integration being most critical in adolescence and late adulthood, while social support/strain is more salient in midlife.Good
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