Connecting the Dots on Social Connection

Social connection is vital to the thriving of people and communities. Today, research continues to affirm what communities have long known: when we are connected, we experience greater well-being. Strong social ties reduce feelings of loneliness, bolster resilience, and are linked to improved physical and mental health outcomes. Here, we explore what social connection means, why it matters for health and well-being, and how to rebuild conditions that foster thriving connected communities.

What is Social Connection?

Social connection is a fundamental human need fulfilled through a web of relationships that provide a sense of belonging, mutual support, and shared purpose. It encompasses the structure of our social world (who is in our lives), the function of those relationships (how we support and rely on one another), and the quality of our interactions (how we feel within those relationships).

Strong social connection plays a critical role in physical and mental health, resilience, and overall well-being. Supportive relationships can buffer stress, promote healing, and protect against depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and even early mortality. Communities and systems that intentionally cultivate connection, through supportive environments, accessible social infrastructure, and opportunities for meaningful interaction, can strengthen individual and collective well-being.

Social Connection Shapes Well-Being

Social connection is a determinant of health—it shapes how long and well we live, and its health implications are far-reaching. Strong social networks can provide emotional and physical support and reduce social isolation. Feelings of loneliness and isolation are linked to increased depression, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. The detrimental effects of lacking social connections can be comparable to those of smoking.

At a community level, social connection strengthens collective efficacy, where people look out for one another, share resources in times of need, and co-create environments that support safety and belonging and foster thriving communities. This social infrastructure can shape health behaviors, reduce exposure to harm, and foster belonging and civic muscle. These benefits are reflected in measurable outcomes, including lower rates of chronic disease and improved mental health.

Addressing the Epidemic of Disconnection

Social disconnection has emerged as a growing public health concern, shaped by intersecting social, technological, demographic, and structural forces. Changing social norms, an increased reliance on digital communication and technology, and declining participation in community and civic life have contributed to social disconnection. The COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in weakening community ties. Many older adults and individuals with health vulnerabilities are still grappling with the effects of isolation, as their social networks have not fully recovered. Additionally, demographic shifts, including an aging population, mean more people are living alone or facing life transitions such as retirement, which can reduce opportunities for social engagement and interaction.

Historical policies, such as redlining and exclusionary zoning, which restricted access to housing, schools, and employment opportunities, have also contributed to barriers to community connection. This has resulted in chronic disinvestment, leading to a lack of vital community spaces such as parks and community centers, which are crucial for fostering connections among residents.

As a consequence, these communities often encounter significant challenges, including:

• Limited access to meaningful public spaces that promote social interaction.
• Fragmented networks of trust that arise from displacement and systemic exclusion.
• Long-term intergenerational effects of disinvestment that uphold social inequalities.

Fostering Supportive Interpersonal Interactions, Relationships, and Dynamics

Supportive interpersonal relationships are central to social connection and well-being, and they develop through a dynamic, reinforcing relationship between everyday interactions and relational skills. Close ties with family, friends, and community members can nurture skills such as empathy, active listening, and emotional regulation, while these skills, in turn, make it easier to build trust, communicate effectively, and sustain healthy connections.

When people and communities invest in relational social skills through family routines, school-based programs, workplace practices, or community initiatives, they create conditions for supportive relationships to grow. By nurturing relationships and encouraging meaningful interactions across both close and broader social networks, communities can strengthen their interpersonal foundations that support health and foster resilience.

Building Places that Strengthen Social Connection

Social connection relies heavily on social infrastructure, which encompasses the physical and organizational frameworks that facilitate meaningful gatherings. Well-designed public parks serve as important meeting places for neighbors, encouraging spontaneous interactions. Libraries go beyond lending books to hosting events and workshops that bring people together, while community centers offer versatile spaces for individuals of all ages to connect and strengthen social bonds.

Communities that invest in spaces and practices that foster belonging tend to be more resilient. Whether through a local food co-op, a cultural festival, or a neighborhood garden, these hubs of connection foster trust, build shared identity, and enable communities to respond more effectively to challenges.

A Focus on Priority Populations

Vulnerable groups, such as immigrants, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, rural communities, and older adults, face additional barriers due to policies that overlook their needs, such as inaccessible spaces, transportation, limited gathering spaces, exclusion or stigma, and language or cultural barriers. Addressing these inequities requires collective investment in inclusive neighborhood design, safe gathering spaces, and equitable access to connection opportunities through digital inclusion and community-driven initiatives.

Not everyone has the same access to connection. Systemic barriers, such as racism, poverty, discrimination, or rural isolation, mean that opportunities to build supportive relationships are unequally distributed. Recognizing these disparities is key to creating a more equitable society where everyone has a fair chance to thrive.

Shaping Systems for Social Connection

Strengthening social connections requires intentional efforts across multiple levels of society. While connection is often experienced personally, in a conversation, a shared meal, or a familiar neighborhood space, the conditions that make it possible are shaped by broader systems and community environments.

Systems/societal level:

At the systems level, investing in the physical, digital, and policy infrastructures can enable people to fully participate in community life. Key considerations include:

• Investing in social infrastructure: Funding public transit, parks, libraries, broadband, and community centers expands opportunities for belonging and participation.
• Addressing policy barriers: Updating zoning laws, transportation plans, and land-use policies can undo historic inequities and reconnect communities.
• Centering equity in decision-making: Systems-level strategies must acknowledge how racism, ableism, and economic exclusion have shaped access to connection.
• Measuring what matters: Incorporating social connection indicators into public health frameworks helps systems track progress and hold themselves accountable.

Community/local level

Social connection can be built and rebuilt locally. Community-level strategies focus on strengthening the places and relationships that make neighborhoods vibrant. These strategies also recognize that communities already hold deep knowledge about what belonging looks like. Key considerations include:

• Designing shared spaces that encourage community participation: Community gardens, plazas, multi-use libraries, and senior centers can act as hubs of belonging.
• Supporting local leadership: Faith leaders, organizers, librarians, cultural stewards, and residents themselves play critical roles in shaping connection.
• Creating social programs that bring people together: Cultural events, intergenerational activities, skill-sharing workshops, and cooperative projects help bridge divides.
• Improving mobility and accessibility: Safe sidewalks, transit options, and accessible public spaces expand who can participate.

Social connection is not just an individual experience; it is a public good influenced by history, policy, community design, and daily interactions. When people have meaningful opportunities to connect, entire communities become healthier, more resilient, and more equitable. Strengthening social connections requires a shared commitment across various sectors and levels of society. The result is significant: a future where everyone has the relationships, support, and sense of belonging they need to thrive.