Research

Mixed

Men with low social integration (socially isolated) have a significantly higher risk of total mortality (multivariate RR 1.19) and fatal coronary heart disease (multivariate RR 1.82) compared to well-integrated men, with effects persisting after controlling for health behaviors and physical condition.

Prioritize maintaining or building social ties, as they are independently associated with lower mortality and heart disease risk. Focus on the quality and quantity of close relationships (friends, relatives) and community involvement (religious groups, social organizations). Even modest increases in social integration, particularly in older men, can reduce mortality risk.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Over 10 years, the relative risk of total mortality for men in the lower two levels of social integration compared with more socially integrated men was 1.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.06, 1.34) after controlling for age, occupation, health behaviors, general physical condition, coronary risk factors, and dietary habits. Socially isolated men also had an increased risk of fatal coronary heart disease (multivariate relative risk = 1.82, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 3.23).
Patricia Mona Eng et al. · American Journal of Epidemiology · 2002

Why this rating

Large prospective cohort (n=28,369), long follow-up (10 years), multivariate adjustment for many confounders, but observational design prevents causal proof.

Source

Social Ties and Change in Social Ties in Relation to Subsequent Total and Cause-specific Mortality and Coronary Heart Disease Incidence in Men

Patricia Mona Eng et al. · American Journal of Epidemiology · 2002

DOI 10.1093/aje/155.8.700

cohort · n=28369Cited 494×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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