New Evidence-Based Guidelines Aim to Treat Social Connection as a Core Health Indicator

Social isolation carries a 30 percent higher risk of premature death, a threat comparable to cigarette smoking and more severe than obesity or physical inactivity. Yet clinical checkups rarely include questions about friendship networks or time spent with loved ones. Seeking to close that gap, an international consortium of more than 100 researchers has released the first comprehensive, science-based guidelines designed to help governments, health systems, employers and individuals strengthen social health.

Who developed the guidelines and why they matter

The guidelines were prepared over two years by specialists in public policy, epidemiology, psychology and urban planning from universities in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Their work responds to mounting evidence that the United States and other nations are facing a “friendship recession,” with Americans spending fewer hours with friends than at any point in recent decades. In 2023 the U.S. Surgeon General formally labeled loneliness an epidemic as deaths linked to suicide, substance use and alcoholism continued to rise.

Codifying social connection into practical recommendations is intended to place it on the same footing as well-known public health advice to exercise 150 minutes a week, eat more vegetables or limit alcohol consumption. Similar to how nutrition labels guide dietary choices, standardized benchmarks for social well-being could allow clinicians to diagnose isolation, enable city planners to prioritize shared spaces and give employers clearer tools for fostering workplace camaraderie.

Five science-backed principles

The research team distilled thousands of studies, plain-language evidence summaries and consultations with marginalized communities into five overarching principles:

1. No universal quota. People do not need a fixed number of friends or hours of interaction to thrive. Social needs vary by personality, life stage and cultural context. Quality outweighs quantity; a single meaningful conversation may offer more benefit than multiple superficial exchanges.
2. Technology as a tool, not a replacement. Passive scrolling on social media can undermine well-being, but deliberate use—such as video calls with distant relatives or group chats that organize local meetups—can reinforce bonds. The goal is to use digital platforms to facilitate real relationships.
3. Systems shape relationships. Social health hinges not only on personal choices but also on environments that make connection possible. Investments in “social infrastructure”—libraries, parks, community centers and cafés—correlate with stronger community resilience and better health outcomes after disasters.
4. Diversity of ties. Robust social networks include both close relationships and “weak ties” such as neighbors, baristas and fellow commuters. Research shows these lighter contacts provide novel information, unexpected opportunities and a broader sense of belonging.
5. Structured support. Healthcare providers, schools and employers can incorporate “social prescriptions,” directing people to group activities or community programs just as they might refer a patient to physical therapy.

Early policy adoption

Portions of the new framework are already being woven into public policy. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have begun pilot projects that embed social-health metrics in municipal planning and healthcare delivery. Some workplaces now evaluate team cohesion when deciding on remote-work arrangements or office layouts, while schools are adding friendship skills and emotional intelligence to core curricula. Municipalities are channeling funds into plazas, walking paths and multipurpose community halls to create places where residents naturally gather.

Practical steps for individuals

The advisory group also outlined everyday actions that align with the science:

Imagem: Internet

• Prioritize in-person contact. Even short face-to-face exchanges can elevate mood, reduce stress and build trust.
• Use technology actively. Replace passive scrolling with intentional outreach—schedule a video chat, send a direct message or join an online group that meets offline.
• Embrace restorative solitude. Time alone is not failure; it is essential for recharging and maintaining balanced social engagement.
• Create interaction routines. Walking the same route each day, frequenting a neighborhood café or attending recurring community events generates predictable opportunities for connection.
• Take initiative. In cultures where socializing is often treated as optional, deliberately carving out time for others can counteract ingrained habits of isolation.

Implications for healthcare

Clinical adoption could follow the model of blood-pressure thresholds or cholesterol targets. Standard screening questions—such as frequency of meaningful conversations or feelings of belonging—would signal when intervention is needed. Health insurers may eventually cover social prescriptions, mirroring coverage for gym memberships or smoking-cessation programs.

According to the World Health Organization, health is defined as complete physical, mental and social well-being. The new guidelines aim to operationalize the social component of that definition, transforming an abstract ideal into measurable and actionable objectives.

Looking ahead

The authors hope the document will motivate further research, guide funding decisions and encourage a cultural shift that treats relationship-building as a health imperative rather than a leisure activity. If widely adopted, the guidelines could influence urban design standards, employee wellness programs and national health strategies much as exercise recommendations have shaped parks, bike lanes and school curricula over the past half-century.

Crédito da imagem: The Conversation