HHS Advisory Identifies Social Connection as a Public Health Priority

On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, the HHS issued an advisory regarding social connection, loneliness, and isolation. The advisory included data and statements from the United States Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, identifying social connection as a public health priority.

While years of psychiatric and medical research have proven that social connection impacts mental and physical health, these social factors rarely get the recognition that other determinants of health do.

In this advisory, the HHS defines social connection as a mixture between interactions, relationships, roles, and a feeling of connection. Acknowledging that social connection may look different for each person, the report highlights three main components: structure, function, and quality.

The structure focuses on the relationships developed, referring to the number or type of connections and frequency of interactions. Function explains how much a person can rely on these relationships for their needs. Finally, the quality of social interactions is the feeling of satisfaction, help, or happiness based on these interactions.

Beyond defining connection, the report notes the adverse health outcomes that correlate with poor social connection, isolation, and loneliness. According to the data presented, people who feel lonely are at a 26% higher risk for premature death. In addition, social isolation is linked to a 29% increased risk of early death.

In addition to an increased risk of premature death, a lack of social connection has been associated with a 29% higher risk of heart disease and a 32% higher risk of stroke.

Despite all the data pointing to the importance of social connection, only 39% of adults in the US felt well-connected, with rates decreasing dramatically over the years. Between 2003 and 2020, rates of social engagement with friends, non-household family engagement, companionship, household family engagement, and social engagement with others declined. Conversely, the rate of social isolation has increased significantly.

The report also identified factors impacting social engagement, including individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. One factor that has significantly declined the rate of social connection is the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many feeling isolated and shed light on the impact of loneliness.

After defining and identifying the importance of social connection, the report provides recommendations for multiple stakeholders. While the advisory designates 11 pages for suggestions, below are some examples:

• Invest in social infrastructure at the local level
• Collaborating with community organizations
• Research the causes of disconnection
• Facilitate connection in school and work environments