How Socialization Affects Your Overall Mental Health

For many people, socialization is something that effortlessly occurs in their lives every single day. They have gotten so used to the habit of planning gatherings with their best friends or joining a few coworkers for happy hour after work. What they don’t realize is how beneficial these social encounters are for their overall mental health. Staying connected to family, friends and activities plays a very important role in every individual’s life. 

Here are some ways that socialization is beneficial to your overall mental health:

Socialization reduces the risk of mental health issues such as depression

Isolation is one of the main signs of depression with people of all ages. Many studies prove that surrounding yourself with other people can help ease the feeling of depression. Belonging to some sort of social group, whether it’s a gardening club or a group of friends who meet once a week for lunch, will put those individuals at a lower risk for depression. The stronger the connection that the person has, the less likely they are to develop this mental health issue. 

Socialization wards off diseases such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s

For a long time, socialization has been considered an important factor for preventing Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In a study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health, older women who had larger social networks were less likely to get Alzheimer’s or Dementia by 26% than women with a small social network. The more connected an individual is, the better they are with memory and cognition. It’s not the number of social acquaintances you have, it’s about the quality of the connection. 

Socialization keeps stress levels at bay

Socializing with others and having a friendly support system not only has a huge impact on defeating psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, but it also plays a key factor in reducing stress as well. Stress leads to serious problems such as heart disease, asthma, obesity, accelerated aging, premature death and more. Social networks that include family, friends and even pets can help foster relaxation in individuals and keep their stress levels at bay. 

Socialization improves mental function

Many studies have come to the conclusion that socializing, even something as simple as talking to another person, can provide mental benefits such as improved memory, improved self-monitoring, and an improved ability to limit internal and external distractions. Socialization provides a short-term brain boost that is comparable to playing games that exercise the brain such as Sudoku or crossword puzzles. 

We’ve got your social life covered!

Here at Bella Vista Health Center in Lemon Grove, we understand the importance of social interaction when it comes to better overall mental health and an improved quality of life. We have multiple organized social activities that are mindfully planned for our guests every single day. 

Come see for yourself! Call (619) 644-1000 to schedule a visit of our 5-star skilled nursing facility.