Human Relationships and Healthy Aging

One of the most pressing issues in the modern era of healthcare is the unprecedented increase in human life expectancy. For many, however, old age is accompanied by poor health and disability. In an effort to extend the number of healthy years people are living, often termed the longevity dividend, healthcare systems are beginning to recognize the importance of promoting healthy aging. Biomedical determinants of healthy aging have received most of the attention, though social determinants of health (e.g., employment, housing, education, and the status of one’s social connections) are more often being considered. Still, even among these, the nature and quality of an individual’s social relationships has not received the attention it deserves. In this chapter, the centrality of human relationships for healthy aging is revealed through summarizing research findings on four main social constructs: social support, social engagement and isolation, and loneliness. Negative effects of social relationships and the broader social and cultural contexts are also examined. In conclusion, the authors discuss assessment strategies, provide recommendations for improved screening and evaluation of patients’ social health and wellness, and suggest human relationship interventions to promote good health in old age.