We, humans, are social creatures. People with more
supportive families and friends are generally happier and more successful in
life. We thrive in supportive environments and we need other human beings to
reaffirm our existence. Several studies have proven that being in
supportive relationships contributes to our psychological well-being. It
benefits us in the following ways:
Gives us a sense of
belonging: No one wants to be an outcast. We thrive when we are accepted.
Being accepted into a group and spending time with people helps keep loneliness
at bay. We need to feel that we’re not alone.
Gives us a feeling of
self-worth: Being accepted and called a friend, reinforces the conviction
that you are a good person with value.
Gives us a feeling of
security: A supportive social network is a source of advice, guidance, and
motivation. We feel comfort in knowing that if we ever need assistance, there
are people who will come to our aid.
Facts About Social
Support And Happiness
In one study of 1400 students at Harvard, called Very Happy
People, results showed that there was a 0.7 correlation between social support
and happiness. Higher than the connection between smoking and cancer.
Marriage is a cause of happiness when you get support from
your partner.
Research by Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler suggests
that happiness, along with other behaviors is contagious. If you belong to a
social network that has a general attitude of positivity, it will rub off on
you. It is true that the company we keep influences our moods and
behaviors.
People who have one or more close friendships tend to be
happier.
People with few social ties are 2 to 3 times more likely to
suffer from depression, as compared to those with stronger social bonds.
People with strong and healthy relationships are less likely
to feel stressed by challenging situations.
The Quality Of Your
Social Network
A social network is about the number of people you interact
with. You can count your social media friends to this group. But a social
network is not the same as social support.
Social Support has more to do with the quality of your friends.
If we want to be happy, building stronger ties should be one of our priorities.
We need to cultivate relationships that go deeper than just a simple Hi and
Hello. How many of your friends can you really rely on? Is there anyone you can
turn to when you have problems? Someone who has your well-being and happiness
in mind? A source of inspiration and hope?
In this advanced age of communication, even with the means
to connect to each other, it seems that we are losing our ability to establish
deep and meaningful relationships with people.
The Quality Of Our
Social Network Is Declining
In 1985, an American survey suggested that people have an
average of 3 close friends. By the year 2006, it dropped to 2. 25% of the study
group couldn’t name one close friend that they can rely on without a doubt. It
is no wonder that the World Health Organization reports 350 million cases of
depression worldwide.
We are more connected now, but the quality of our
connections are deteriorating.
The Kinds Of Support
You Need To Be Happy
According to sociologist James Michigan, a deep and
meaningful relationship provides us with one or all of the following:
Emotional Support:
You need to be assured that you have people in your corner. These people help
nurture you and keep you moving forward. It involves love, trust, care,
intimacy, affection, and encouragement.
Tangible Support:
Are people you can call on for help on things like financial assistance,
babysitting the kids so you can watch a movie, or going with you to the dentist
or doctor. It covers
Appraisal Support:
The people who love you enough to give you constructive and honest feedback
about yourself. This type of support cannot be expected from mere
acquaintances. It can only come from people who know you very
well.
Informational Support:
These are professional acquaintances such as lawyers, mental health
professionals, accountants, doctors, clergy, and more. They can share their
expertise with you when you need it and help you solve problems.
Companionship Support:
Activity friends who make us feel socially accepted. They could be your reading
group or church group or any other group of people you interact with socially.
Normally in our lives, we get a certain type of support from different people.
That’s alright, as long as you have someone you can turn to. These people form
your social support group. Their presence is something that you should value
and appreciate. They play a big role in making you a happier and well-rounded
person. Have you nurtured an adequate support system in your life? It’s never
too late to start.
This article was published on The World Counts, to see the
original Article navigate to theworldcounts.com