Social connection matters for your health

"We need to prioritize our social relationships

like our life depends on it, because it does."

- Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad

Where Dr. Holt-Lunstad’s work is featured

Julianne's research and writing has been featured across the globe on major media networks.

 

Dr. Holt-Lunstad’s TEDx talk

Social isolation and loneliness are significant predictors of long-term health outcomes. In this talk, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad describes the vital importance of social relationships for lasting health. Her research about the impact of social connection on health outcomes has been highly cited, most notably the discovery that a lack of social connection is comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day. She describes her research including data from more than 300,000 participants worldwide, and additional supporting evidence. Dr. Holt-Lunstad emphasizes the critical importance for organizations, businesses, governments, and individuals to prioritize their social relationships.

 
 

Media feature highlights:

  • The Surprising Power of Texting a Friend

    Research shows that social connection has a profound impact on our life, and it could be as simple as sending a quick text.

    Read the full article on New York Times

  • The Loneliness Curve

    New research suggests people tend to be lonelier in young adulthood and late life. But experts say it doesn’t have to be that way.

    Read the full article at New York Times.

  • More than 4,000 additional robotic pets to be given to seniors in New York to combat loneliness

    The robotic pets will be distributed by the New York State Office For Aging.

    Read the full article at ABC News

  • Loneliness Is a Public Health Emergency. Here's What Helps, According to Experts

    Read about strategies that help to decrease loneliness from Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad and other experts.

    Read on TIME.com

  • We Need to Understand the Difference Between Isolation and Loneliness

    Both can pose distinct dangers to our mental and physical health.

    Read on New York Times

  • America needs a Chief Friendship Officer

    Nearly 1 in 5 Americans have no close social connections, a double digit increase from 2013.The author of Friendship in the Age of Loneliness says it’s a crisis that needs national leadership.

    Read on Fast Company

  • Live Interview With Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO

    Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook COO) and Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist and loneliness research expert, on navigating feelings of loneliness during COVID-19.

    Watch the Interview

  • Is There Really a “Loneliness Epidemic”?

    The Freakanomics Podcast discusses the extent to which loneliness has infiltrated our society.

    Listen on Freakonomics

Social Connection & Health: Evidence

Dr. Holt-Lunstad has found strong evidence that having more and better relationships is associated with better health while fewer and poorer quality relationships is associated with poorer health. This is true regardless of gender, age, or geography; people who are more socially connected live longer. Lacking social connection significantly increases risk of heart attack, stroke and type II diabetes. Social isolation slows wound healing, increases risk of dementia and Alzheimers and even increases the rate of cellular aging.

 

Air pollution increases your risk of early death by 5%, obesity by 18%, physical inactivity (not exercising) by 22%. Loneliness increases your risk of early death by 26%. (Holt-Lunstad, 2015 & 2010)