What Is Social Wellness? Social wellness is all about having healthy relationships and positive connections with those around us and encompasses how we interact with others. Social wellness involves building a supportive network of friends and also relates to how comfortably we can adapt to changing social situations. It is incredibly crucial to have social wellness as those with strong and genuine connections are more likely to live longer, feel less stressed, and overall, lead happier, healthier lives!
Did you know…
Having close friends is associated with higher levels of immunoglobulin which can help fight respiratory infections and cavities!- A hug a day keeps the doctor away! For most people, physical affection is linked to improvements in mental and physical health
- Social wellness helps enable healthy boundary-making and enforcing skills, which is crucial for creating relationships in which you feel cared for, safe, and respected.
Check out these awesome ways to foster social wellness:
1. Keeping in touch with supportive friends and family! It is important to show your loved ones that you appreciate them by spending time with them! Grab dinner together, give them a hug, etc. Show them you care!
2. Joining and engaging in clubs and organizations! Clubs are a great way to find friends that have similar interests as you!
3. Practice active listening! Although it may be tempting to talk more about yourself, it is important to listen to what your friend has to say. Engaging in conversations, listening, and understanding are key to developing a strong and genuine relationship.
4. Practice self-care! It is also important to love and respect yourself. Loving yourself can also help you attract good and supportive people!
What the students had to say: To gather opinions and information for this article, we collected responses regarding social wellness from local high school seniors. When asked about traits they looked for in a good friend, the most common answers included trustworthy, positive, open-minded, kind, and ones that shared a similar interest/mentality. None of the students were in any other community programs, such as clubs or sports teams, but regarding their support system, the most common response was a family member, followed by a best friend or friends, and then a current or ex-significant other. The students expressed that they show care and improve upon their social wellness by being there for those they appreciate!
Contributors: Health & Wellness 2nd PD
Resources:
https://www.nih.gov/health-information/social-wellness-toolkit
https://www.unomaha.edu/student-life/presidents-wellness-committee/social-wellness