Research suggests that having consistent social support is linked to good health outcomes. For example, Rachel Burns (Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology) and her colleagues studied links between patterns of social support and health outcomes in adults with diabetes. Those who had consistently high levels of support over three years had fewer depressive symptoms and better daily functioning than those who had consistently low levels of social support. Increasing social support can involve maintaining your current relationships, perhaps by keeping in touch, being appreciative, and having meaningful conversations. Increasing social support can also involve developing new relationships, perhaps by volunteering or joining a new team, club or leisure course. To read this article, click here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30480332/
Uchino, B. N. (2006). Social support and health: a review of physiological processes potentially underlying links to disease outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 29, 377-387.