Social Relationships and Health

These flashcards focus on key vocabulary and concepts related to the influence of social relationships on health.

Health Selection Theory

The theory suggesting that individuals must have a minimum level of health for migration benefits to outweigh costs.

Social Relationships

The degree to which individuals are interconnected and embedded in communities, influencing their health and longevity.

Alameda County Study (1965)

One of the first studies linking social relationships with health, following 7000 people over 10 years.

Social Isolation and Mortality Risk

Individuals with fewer social ties are significantly more likely to die within a certain follow-up period.

Emile Durkheim

A sociologist whose work focused on the effects of social dynamics on individual pathology.

Attachment and Regulation

Durkheim's concepts explaining how individuals are bonded to society through social ties and societal norms.

Attachment Theory (Bowlby)

The idea that forming close affectional bonds is a universal human need, starting from infancy.

Social Networks

The structure of social contacts among individuals in a group, influencing health outcomes.

Cascading Causal Process

A model that explains how social conditions affect health through interconnected processes.

Social Capital

The resources individuals access as a result of their membership in a social network or group.

Bonding Social Capital

Strong, dense relationships among similar individuals providing mutual support.

Bridging Social Capital

Connections that span different social groups, facilitating information and resource sharing.

Negative Social Interactions

Interactions that involve demands, criticism, or conflict, which can harm mental and physical health.

Social Support

Assistance provided by social networks that can be emotional, instrumental, informational, or appraisal.

Reciprocity

The mutual exchange of support in social relationships, guided by social norms.

Psychosocial Mechanisms

Processes through which social relationships impact health outcomes, including social support and engagement.

Self-Efficacy

An individual's belief in their capability to perform behaviors that influence health outcomes.

Health Behaviors

Actions that individuals take which can promote or harm their health, influenced by social relationships.

Social Influence

The effect social networks can have on behaviors, often without direct communication.

Social Engagement

Active participation in social activities that fosters a sense of belonging and can enhance health.

Cognitive Reserve

The brain's ability to offset age-related decline, positively influenced by social engagement.

Inflammation

A protective response of the body to harmful stimuli, which can be affected by social isolation.

Loneliness Epidemic

The increasing reported time spent alone, indicating a decline in social connections.

Person-to-Person Contact

Actual physical interactions that can influence health, particularly regarding infectious diseases.

Social Connections

The ties formed with others that can provide emotional and material support.

Stress Buffering

The role of social relationships in reducing the impact of stress on health.

Psychological Mechanisms

The influence of social relationships on cognitive processes and emotional well-being.

Direct Connections to Health

The impact social relationships have on health through behaviors and physiological pathways.