Extend Your Healthspan with Social Connection

Social connection is that sense of belonging that you experience when you interact meaningfully with others. Community, a word you might equate with social connection, on the other hand, is the shared space—physical or emotional—where these relationships flourish. Both are central to your sense of connectedness with others, and fostering social connection and community has been shown to extend your healthspan.

This article explores the significance of building both community and social connection. And it offers ways in which you can nurture these bonds to promote your own well-being and healthspan.

Research conducted by Dr. Robert Waldinger, Harvard Medical School professor and Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest running scientific study of adult life ever conducted, demonstrates that people who maintain strong social ties live longer, experience fewer health issues, and report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. The absence of these connections—whether due to isolation, loneliness, or fragmented communities—can lead to serious consequences for both mental and physical health.

The Challenges to Building Community and Social Connection

Despite the well-documented benefits of social connection, building and maintaining these relationships has become increasingly difficult. So why is it so challenging to do what you are hard-wired to do?

Although technology has revolutionized communication, it has also altered the ways in which you interact with others. Social media platforms, for example, offer a form of connection, but the relationships you create there can often be superficial or fleeting. Social media can foster feelings of isolation by promoting comparison and competition, where you measure your life against the curated images and success stories of others. This can lead to loneliness and a lack of real engagement with your own immediate surroundings.

Urban environments can contribute to a lack of social connection despite your proximity to others. The physical design of modern cities—think individual apartment living and car-based transport —often discourages the spontaneous or casual social interactions that were more common in small town settings.

The emphasis placed on personal freedom and self-sufficiency has created an environment where people may prioritize their own needs over the collective good. While individualism has benefits, it can also contribute to social fragmentation. As a result, you may feel less inclined to participate in community activities or support your neighbors. This leads to a decline in what is called social capital—the good will and support you provide to others and vice versa through the personal relationships you have with them.

Strategies for Building and Strengthening Community

Despite the challenges, there are many ways that you can build and strengthen social connection. Here are a few to experiment with:

Make more of your social interactions face-to-face. Whether through shared meals, neighborhood gatherings, or simply making a virtual meeting into an in-person appointment. Regular, in-person socializing can strengthen trust and build social connection.

Find your public space. Social connection is often shaped by the physical environments where you meet and interact with others. Public spaces like parks, community centers, libraries, and cafes offer neutral, accessible venues where you can gather, relax, and have those casual conversations that might lead to friendship over time.

Support your local community and get involved. Active participation in local government, volunteering in or near where you live, or even getting involved in a neighborhood association is another way to build social connection within the context of structured activities where the intention is for you and others to interact.

Find new fun. Pursuing a sport, hobby, or other area of interest is a great way to build social connection with others who share your passion.

Be kind. At the heart of meaningful social connection is empathy—the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Compassionate communication, active listening, and acts of kindness foster social connection. Even simple gestures, like helping a neighbor, checking in on a friend, or offering support during difficult times, can strengthen relationships and enhance your connection to others.