A groundbreaking study from Brigham Young University (BYU) is shedding new light on the complex and underestimated relationship between social connection and physical health. Despite mounting evidence that social isolation and loneliness are as detrimental to health as well-known risk factors like smoking and obesity, both the general public and healthcare providers continue to overlook these social determinants in medical settings. This research marks a vital step in understanding why social connection must be recognized as a crucial element of healthcare.
The correlation between social connection and physical health is not newly discovered, yet it remains insufficiently acknowledged in clinical practice. Decades of research, including landmark meta-analyses and comprehensive frameworks spearheaded by BYU psychology and neuroscience expert Julianne Holt-Lunstad, have demonstrated the profound influence that social relationships bear on longevity and overall health outcomes. Holt-Lunstad’s earlier meta-analysis, encompassing over 300,000 participants, revealed that individuals with strong social ties have a 50% greater likelihood of survival compared to their isolated counterparts. Nevertheless, despite this overwhelming scientific consensus, social isolation remains absent from death certificates and is often neglected as a significant medical factor.
The recent surge in public discourse around loneliness and isolation, particularly during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, prompted BYU doctoral student Andrew Proctor and Holt-Lunstad to examine whether this changing social landscape had altered public and professional perceptions. Using digital trend analysis tools such as Google Trends and BuzzSumo, they observed that pandemic-related social distancing measures dramatically increased online searches related to isolation and loneliness. This phenomenon suggested a possible shift in awareness and concern regarding these social risk factors, motivating the researchers to investigate further.
In a large-scale survey sampling 2,392 adults from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, Proctor and Holt-Lunstad aimed to capture contemporary attitudes toward social connection and its health risks. Surprisingly, their data unveiled a persistent underestimation of the importance of social factors among the general population. This ambivalence toward social connection’s health relevance was strikingly uniform, evident not only in socially connected individuals but also among those experiencing loneliness themselves. These findings indicate a profound societal blind spot, where the vital role of social relationships in physical well-being remains underestimated even by those most affected.
Emphasizing the clinical parallels, Proctor likened social connection to a "vital sign" — a fundamental indicator of health that should be routinely monitored and addressed. High blood pressure and smoking are universally recognized medical priorities due to their clear evidence-backed risks, yet social disconnection, despite equally compelling data, fails to receive comparable medical attention. This discrepancy highlights a critical gap in both healthcare education and clinical practice, where social determinants often fall outside standard assessments and treatment plans.
To further explore these professional blind spots, Holt-Lunstad, Proctor, and their colleagues extended their investigation to medical providers, surveying 681 healthcare practitioners predominantly composed of physicians. Their study revealed a consistent underappreciation of social connection’s role in health, mirroring attitudes identified within the general populace. Notably, clinicians reported time constraints and a lack of resources as significant barriers to integrating social assessments and interventions within their routines. This entrenched professional hesitancy underscores the urgent need for structural changes in healthcare delivery.
An intriguing element of the study was the temporal divide in data collection, occurring across two cohorts from the University of Utah Health System and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). The UCSF group demonstrated heightened awareness regarding social determinants, a disparity attributed to UCSF’s institutional investment in social health research and intervention, particularly through its Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network. This finding suggests that organizational culture, exposure to cutting-edge research, and systemic support can meaningfully influence healthcare providers’ perceptions and practices.
Furthermore, the timing of the second cohort’s survey, following the release of the 2023 Surgeon General’s Advisory on social connection, appeared to enhance clinical awareness. Holt-Lunstad was instrumental as the lead scientist in this landmark advisory, which officially recognized social isolation and loneliness as urgent public health issues. The advisory advocates for integrating social determinants into patient care protocols, highlighting a critical juncture in public health policy. The interplay between policy initiatives and institutional support appears to shape the trajectory of clinical awareness and prioritization of social health.
Despite these encouraging signs, Holt-Lunstad emphasizes that awareness alone is insufficient. Transformational change demands the development and implementation of actionable strategies that equip medical providers with the tools necessary to assess and intervene on social determinants effectively. The study calls for enhanced education at all levels, including revised curricula for healthcare professionals beginning in K-12 education through to advanced medical training. Public health campaigns aiming to destigmatize loneliness and promote the value of social connection are also essential components of a comprehensive response.
Emerging concepts like "social prescribing," where clinicians formally recommend social activities or connections as part of treatment plans, represent promising avenues to integrate social health within conventional medicine. However, actionable strategies must overcome barriers related to time, resources, and existing clinical workflows. Proctor and Holt-Lunstad are optimistic that ongoing research will provide insights into overcoming these pragmatic challenges, paving the way for more holistic and effective healthcare practices.
The implications of this research resonate far beyond individual health outcomes. Social connection is increasingly recognized as a determinant of population-wide wellbeing, with broad socioeconomic and public health ramifications. Addressing social isolation could reduce healthcare costs, improve chronic disease management, and enhance quality of life across diverse demographic groups. As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with escalating demands and complex, multifactorial diseases, integrating social determinants offers a potentially transformative paradigm shift.
This body of work underscores a critical need for multi-sector collaboration involving healthcare providers, policy-makers, educators, and community organizations to create a supportive infrastructure for social health. Holt-Lunstad expresses hope that these studies will catalyze a paradigm shift, encouraging stakeholders to fully recognize and act on the substantial evidence linking social connection to physical health. Only through collective acknowledgment and strategic action can the silent epidemic of loneliness be effectively addressed.
In conclusion, BYU’s pioneering research elucidates a profound disconnect between scientific knowledge and public and professional perceptions regarding social connection and health. Despite robust evidence demonstrating the physical health risks of social isolation, there remains a pervasive underestimation of its importance. The findings highlight a crucial opportunity for healthcare reform, emphasizing education, institutional support, policy advancement, and innovative clinical interventions to bridge this gap. Recognizing social connection as a vital sign is not only scientifically sound but essential in forging a future where holistic health is truly attainable.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Healthcare providers’ perceived importance and barriers to addressing social connection in medical settings
News Publication Date: 27-Feb-2025
Web References:
- 2010 Meta-Analysis by Julianne Holt-Lunstad
- 2023 Assessment and Treatment Framework
- 2023 Surgeon General Advisory
- Recent Published Study in Springer Nature
- Study in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
References:
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15295
Image Credits: Jaren Wilkey
Keywords: Human relations, Social neuroscience
