TY - JOUR
T1 - Social network structure and combating social disconnection
T2 - Implications for physical health
AU - Farrell, Allison K.
AU - Stanton, Sarah C. E.
AU - Marshall, Emma M.
N1 - /
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Disconnection from one’s social network has detrimental links to physical health outcomes, and there has been increased interest in treating social disconnection as a public health issue. Two perspectives guide much of the research on social networks, social disconnection, and physical health. One perspective emphasizes the quality of social ties over the quantity of social ties, whereas the other emphasizes quantity over quality. In this article, we discuss the importance of combining these perspectives to promote forming networks consisting of a few close relationships in addition to some peripheral ties to effectively combat social disconnection and maintain and promote better health. We also highlight important avenues for future research, including identifying critical moderators (e.g., age, culture) and using social network interventions to address issues of causality.
AB - Disconnection from one’s social network has detrimental links to physical health outcomes, and there has been increased interest in treating social disconnection as a public health issue. Two perspectives guide much of the research on social networks, social disconnection, and physical health. One perspective emphasizes the quality of social ties over the quantity of social ties, whereas the other emphasizes quantity over quality. In this article, we discuss the importance of combining these perspectives to promote forming networks consisting of a few close relationships in addition to some peripheral ties to effectively combat social disconnection and maintain and promote better health. We also highlight important avenues for future research, including identifying critical moderators (e.g., age, culture) and using social network interventions to address issues of causality.
KW - social networks
KW - social disconnection
KW - physical health
KW - social relationships
U2 - 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101313
DO - 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101313
M3 - Review article
VL - 45
JO - Current Opinion in Psychology
JF - Current Opinion in Psychology
SN - 2352-250X
ER -