Laughter is so fundamental that animals like chimps, rats and dogs share the ability with humans. But in people it serves more serious social functions than just letting others know you’re having fun.
Similarly to the nutrition, exercise and alcohol use guidelines promoted by many national governments, social connection guidelines have the potential to improve our health and happiness by helping us prioritize social connections in our daily lives.
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People who are lonely lead sicker and shorter lives. Just like the guidelines for food and exercise, public health guidelines for social connection can help us all live happier and healthier lives.
An overreliance on medication as the first-line treatment for depression can lead some people to be labeled with treatment-resistant depression when there are other viable alternatives for relief.
Healthspan measures incorporate quality of life in ways that lifespan does not.
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Aging is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases. Figuring out what influences longevity and how to identify rapid agers could lead to healthier and longer lives for more people.
Loneliness around the world is growing as a result of how our lives are structured.
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Public health measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic meant that many people experienced social isolation. But the pandemic didn’t invent loneliness, and its impacts on our health are growing.
Many studies on alcohol and health do not consider the social context of drinking.
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Loneliness and social isolation are some of the strongest predictors of poor health. But many studies informing Canada’s new alcohol guidelines don’t consider social connection at all.
The pandemic made many people more aware of the impossibility of severing work from life.
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Two new studies highlight the importance of social connection in the workplace and illustrate why working from home may not be the optimal workplace arrangement.
A comparison of 42 urban areas in New Zealand with 500 towns and cities in the US shows how much better local urban design has to be if we’re serious about reducing reliance on cars.
Connecting can mean sharing a hearty laugh.
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The physical activity and social connection that take place at recess help children be more engaged once back in the classroom.
Circles designed to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus by encouraging social distancing line San Francisco’s Dolores Park on May 21, 2020.
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People have changed over time, growing ever more distant and isolated from others – while at the same time finding new ways and technologies that let individuals connect and feel with others.
Issues of New York Magazine March 16-29, 2020 are on display at a newsstand in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, Thursday, March 19, 2020.
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With so much sadness and loss from COVID-19, some of us may feel selfish if we complain about relative inconveniences. But because humans are creatures of habit, changes are hard.
Seniors may need help shopping, picking up prescriptions, and connecting with others.
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