Social Connection.pptx

A basic need of all social animals including human beings.

1. SOCIAL CONNECTION FAKHRUDDIN AHMED

2. SOCIAL CONNECTION DEFINITION Wikipedia defines Social Connection as follows: Social connection is the experience of feeling close and connected to others. It involves feeling loved, cared for, and valued, and forms the basis of interpersonal relationships. In humans (one of the most social species), social connection is essential to nearly every aspect of health and well-being. Lack of connection, or loneliness, has been linked to inflammation, accelerated aging and cardiovascular health risk, suicide, and all-cause mortality.

3. SOCIAL CONNECTION NEED FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION Social connection and belonging may in fact be a basic need, as powerful as our need for food or water. Mammals are born relatively helpless, and rely on their caregivers not only for affection, but for survival. This may be evolutionarily why mammals need and seek connection, and also for why they suffer prolonged distress and health consequences when that need is not met.

4. SOCIAL CONNECTION TYPES OF SOCIAL CONNECTION * Affection * Friendship * Interpersonal relationships * Intimate relationships * Human bonding * Love In this presentation I will discuss only “Affection” and “Friendship” which will be sufficient to demonstrate the importance of Social Connection in human life specially the Seniors. I will then move on to two related subjects which are very important from Senior’s point of view which are * Social isolation and * Social support.

5. SOCIAL CONNECTION AFFECTION Affection or fondness is a "disposition or state of mind or body" that is often associated with a feeling or type of love. "Affection" is popularly used to denote a feeling or type of love, amounting to more than goodwill or friendship. More specifically, the word is also used to indicate emotional states, the object of which is a living thing such as a human or animal. Affection can be communicated by looks, words, gestures, or touches. It conveys love and social connection .

6. SOCIAL CONNECTION Benefits of Affection Affection exchange can be seen as an adaptive human behavior that contributes to greater physical and mental well-being. People who communicate positive feelings towards others show health benefits that include lower stress hormones, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and a stronger immune system. The affectionate person notices benefits internally when they express affection and not merely feel it; if this affection is not reciprocated by the receiver, the giver still feels the effects of the affection. We should therefore cultivate affection with other human beings like children, grand children, neighbours, old class fellows, office mates etc. Even pets can be good objects of affection.

7. SOCIAL CONNECTION FRIENDSHIP Friendship is mutual affection between people. Stronger bond than an "acquaintance" or an "association". Some important features of Friendship: 1. Self disclosure. ( willingness to share aspects of personal nature) 2. Instrumental aid. (help each other practically like driving a friend to the airport) 3. Similarity. (in world view or culture or religion or life experiences) 4. Enjoyment. (enjoy company of each other) 5. Agency. (sharing of each other’s information, skills or resources)

8. SOCIAL CONNECTION Benefits of Friendship to the Seniors: 1. Results in increased ability to accomplish activities of daily living, 2. Decreased instances of hospitalization, improved psychological well being and better outcomes related to rehabilitation. 3. As family responsibilities and vocational pressures lessen, friendships become more important. 4. It serves as a protective factor against depression and loneliness, and compensate for potential losses in social support previously given by family members. 5. For people who cannot go out as often, interactions with friends allow for continued societal interaction.

9. SOCIAL CONNECTION SOCIAL ISOLATION Social isolation is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individual and society. It differs from loneliness, which reflects temporary and involuntary lack of contact with other humans in the world. SYMPTOMS Every day aspects of deep-rooted social isolation can mean: staying home for an indefinite period of time due to lack of access to social situations rather than a desire to be alone; both not contacting, and not being contacted by, any acquaintances, even peripherally; for example, never being called by anybody on the telephone and never having anyone visit one's residence; a lack of meaningful, extended relationships, and especially close intimacy (both emotional and physical).

10. SOCIAL CONNECTION Contributing factors The following risk factors contribute to reasons why individuals distance themselves from society: Aging 2. Health and disabilities 3. Loss of loved one 4. Abusive spouse 5. Rural isolation 6. Unemployment/Retirement 7. No transportation 8. Substance abuse 9. Self esteem

11. SOCIAL CONNECTION Consequences of disconnection A wide range of mammals, including rats, prairie voles, guinea pigs, cattle, sheep, primates, and humans, experience distress and long-term deficits when separated from their parent. In humans, long-lasting health consequences result from early experiences of disconnection. Disconnection or Chronic loneliness (loneliness which exists for a significant amount of time in one's life) is generally correlated with negative effects, including increased obesity, substance use disorder, risk of depression, cardiovascular disease, risk of high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Chronic loneliness is also correlated with an increased risk of death and suicidal thoughts.

12. SOCIAL CONNECTION SOCIAL SUPPORT Social support is the perception and actuality that one is cared for, has assistance available from other people, and that one is part of a supportive social network. Social support can be categorized as follows: Emotional support. Tangible support. Informational support. Companionship support.

13. SOCIAL CONNECTION SOCIAL SUPPORT Emotional support. Emotional support is the offering of empathy, concern, affection, love, trust, acceptance, intimacy, encouragement, or caring. It is the warmth and nurturance provided by sources of social support. Providing emotional support can let the individual know that he or she is valued. Sources of this support to the seniors are family members, friends, social/religious groups and old fellow workers as well as pets.

14. SOCIAL CONNECTION SOCIAL SUPPORT 2. Tangible support. Tangible support is the provision of financial assistance, material goods, or services. Also called instrumental support, this form of social support encompasses the concrete, direct ways people assist others. This is usually provided by the immediate family members or the Government through public aid.

15. SOCIAL CONNECTION SOCIAL SUPPORT 3. Informational support. Informational support is the provision of advice, guidance, suggestions, or useful information to someone. This type of information has the potential to help others problem-solve. This category of social support can be provided by a variety of sources like family members, friends/colleagues, Government sources, and community/religious centres.

16. SOCIAL CONNECTION SOCIAL SUPPORT 4. Companionship support. Companionship support is the type of support that gives someone a sense of social belonging (and is also called belonging). This can be seen as the presence of companions to engage in shared social activities. Formerly, it was also referred to as "esteem support" or "appraisal support", but these have since developed into alternative forms of support under the name "appraisal support" along with normative and instrumental support.

17. SOCIAL CONNECTION CONCLUDING REMARKS Basic need. Shared responsibility. Individual role. Family's role. Neighbours’ role. Community’s role. Government role. Importance of Social Support cannot be overemphasized.

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