WellnessChapter 4

Guidelines for a Healthy Lifestyle

Social Support and Social Networksp. 74

• Social support – the human resources that people provide to each other

• Social network – the size, density, durability, intensity, and frequency of social contacts

• The 4 social supports are:– 1. Instrumental support: tangible help – a ride to class

when your car is being fixed– 2. emotional support: affection, understanding,

acceptance, and respect– 3. informational support: information – which classes

to take, where to go to sign-up for a club and etc.– 4. Appraisal support: feedback, advice, direction

Benefits, Touch and Lonelinesspp. 75-76

• Benefits of social support (p. 75)– Social support protects health and reduces mortality

• Touch: a crucial aspect of social support (p. 75)– One of the most powerful components of social

support is touch, whereas it reaps positive health benefits

• Loneliness and Health (pp. 75-76)– Loneliness is related less to the number of people in

our lives than to the satisfaction we have with those relationships

– Loneliness is not necessarily a consequence of being alone• People can feel alone even when people surround them• People that are alone do Not necessarily feel alone

The importance of friendshipsp. 76

• Close friends clearly buffer stress and help overcome the unwanted effects of loneliness

• Confiding in a friend can provide many health benefits– Before you confide in someone:

• 1. Realize that sharing information about sensitive issues may strain the friendship

• 2. Recognize that disclosing a past trauma may be difficult or uncomfortable to the listener to hear

• 3. Explore your motive for sharing potentially hurtful information• 4. Recognize that there might be a better way to solve a problem

than by discussing it with a friend• Before disclosing specific information ask yourself 3 questions:

– 1. Is it true? 2. Will it be unhurtful? 3. Is it necessary?» If the answers reflect sincere motives, confide in your friend

Enriching Your Support NetworkThe Importance of Pets

pp. 76-78• Enriching your support network (pp. 76-77)– If your social connections are weak, invest as much

time and energy as you can toward building it • Enrich your existing friendships by spending time with

friends in person• Increase diversity in your social interactions• Establish regular times to meet

– Not all relationships are beneficial!!!• The importance of pets (pp. 77-78)– Pets are also a positive source of support

• Pet ownership has been associated with improved cardiovascular functioning, improved emotional stability, and better general health

Divorce, Families, Times of Losspp. 79-82

• Divorce and Its Consequences (p. 79)– Men and women who are separated or divorced have poorer

physiological and physical health than do widowed, happily married, or single adults

– One reason that divorced compromises health is related to social support• Being married provides built-in social networks, economic ties, and

instrumental support • Families and health (pp. 79-81)

– A family is a group that shares common goals and values and works together to achieve those goals

– The relationships between the members can have a profound effect on the health and longevity for each member

• Social Support in times of loss (pp. 81-82)– Social support is vital to help people cope with loss and deal

with grief, ranging from minor disappointments to major losses