Social Relationships and Health

1988/07/29 by James S. House, Karl R. Landis, Debra Umberson · 16 citations
Social Sciences · Psychology · Health Professions · #Health disparities and outcomes #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction #Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations

paper · doi:10.1126/science.3399889

openalex publication_date 1988/07/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Recent scientific work has established both a theoretical basis and strong empirical evidence for a causal impact of social relationships on health. Prospective studies, which control for baseline health status, consistently show increased risk of death among persons with a low quantity, and sometimes low quality, of social relationships. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies of humans and animals also suggest that social isolation is a major risk factor for mortality from widely varying causes. The mechanisms through which social relationships affect health and the factors that promote or inhibit the development and maintenance of social relationships remain to be explored.

Citations

• Social Support as a Moderator of Life Stress
• Family Status and Health Behaviors: Social Control as a Dimension of Social Integration
• Conceptual, Methodological, and Theoretical Problems in Studying Social Support as a Buffer Against Life Stress
• SOCIAL NETWORKS, HOST RESISTANCE, AND MORTALITY: A NINE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY RESIDENTS
• Social Facilitation

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