Summary: People who struggle in social settings may face higher risks of both physical and mental health problems, according to researchers.
Source: University of Arizona
New research from the University of Arizona suggests that difficulty with social interactions can increase the likelihood of both mental and physical health problems.
Researchers found that individuals with weaker social skills tend to experience greater stress and loneliness—two powerful factors that can harm health over time, said Chris Segrin, head of the UA Department of Communication and the study’s author.
The study, published in the journal Health Communication, is among the first to show a clear association between social skills and physical health in addition to mental health.
“We’ve long known that poor social skills are linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety,” Segrin said. “What we’ve now shown more definitively is that social skills are also predictive of poorer physical health. Loneliness and stress appear to be the mechanisms that connect social-skill deficits to health outcomes. People who struggle socially tend to live with higher levels of both stress and loneliness.”
The findings come from an online survey of a nationally representative sample of 775 adults, ages 18 to 91. Respondents completed measures designed to assess social skills, perceived stress, feelings of loneliness, and both mental and physical health.
In this study, “social skills” refers to the communication abilities that enable effective and appropriate interaction with others. Segrin focused on four specific skills:
- Emotional support — the ability to offer comfort and understanding to others;
- Self-disclosure — the willingness and capacity to share personal information when appropriate;
- Negative assertion — the capacity to refuse unreasonable requests or set boundaries; and
- Relationship initiation — the ability to introduce oneself and form new social connections.
Participants who reported deficits in these areas also reported higher levels of stress and loneliness, and they rated their mental and physical health less favorably than those with stronger social skills.
While the harmful biological effects of chronic stress are well documented, the recognition of loneliness as a major health risk is more recent. Segrin noted that accumulating evidence now suggests loneliness can be a serious threat to health—comparable in risk to behaviors like smoking, obesity, or a sedentary lifestyle with poor diet.
Segrin used a relatable analogy to describe persistent loneliness: it feels like the frantic, unresolved stress you experience when you can’t find your keys, except that lonely people rarely get the relief of locating what they’re looking for. “When we misplace our keys, the stress usually ends quickly when the keys are found,” he said. “Lonely people are searching for meaningful connections, but they often cannot find them, so the stress persists and takes a toll.”
There is, however, reason for optimism. Social skills can improve through intentional effort. “People who want to strengthen their social abilities can benefit from therapy, counseling, or social-skills training,” Segrin said.
One challenge is that many individuals who struggle socially lack awareness of the problem. They may not recognize why relationships, job prospects, or romantic opportunities are not going well. “A lack of social awareness means some people carry this health risk without realizing it,” Segrin noted. “They may not see their own role in recurring conflicts or missed opportunities.”
Where Do Social Skills Come From?
Social skills are primarily learned over time, beginning in the family and developing through school, friendships, and work. Segrin, who has studied social skills for more than three decades, acknowledged that some traits—such as natural sociability or social anxiety—may have hereditary components that influence how easily someone acquires social competence.
Although this study did not examine the role of technology, Segrin cautioned that modern communication habits may hinder social-skill development, especially among young people. “Texting and other abbreviated forms of communication condense interactions into small pieces,” he said. “Human communication has always been richer and more nuanced, and the reliance on short, parsed messages can make young people more uncertain and timid in face-to-face settings. That reduction in practice at in-person conversation may be hurting their ability to form meaningful connections.”
Parents and caregivers can play a proactive role by limiting excessive screen time and encouraging regular in-person social experiences—summer camps, sports teams, clubs, faith-based groups, or other activities that create opportunities for children and teens to interact naturally with peers.
Segrin also recommended future research to examine other social-skill facets and to explore how social competence affects people living with chronic illness. He stressed the practical takeaway: improving communication skills can have benefits beyond social life and relationships—it can support physical health as well.
Source: Alexis Blue, University of Arizona
Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com
Image source: NeuroscienceNews.com image in the public domain
Original research: “Indirect Effects of Social Skills on Health Through Stress and Loneliness” by Chris Segrin, published in Health Communication (published online October 20, 2017). doi:10.1080/10410236.2017.1384434
Abstract
Indirect Effects of Social Skills on Health Through Stress and Loneliness
The social-skills deficit vulnerability model predicts that individuals with inadequate social skills face greater risk for a range of psychosocial problems, especially when under stress. People with poor social skills often experience elevated stress and loneliness; this study tested whether those constructs act as pathways linking social-skill deficits to compromised mental and physical health. An online survey of 775 adults (age 18–91) that matched national demographics for race/ethnicity and age found, via structural equation modeling, indirect effects of social skills on both mental and physical health through stress and loneliness. The models indicate that poorer social skills are associated with worse mental and physical health because they elevate stress and increase feelings of loneliness. These findings suggest social-skills deficits are linked to physical as well as mental health problems.
Authors and publication details: “Indirect Effects of Social Skills on Health Through Stress and Loneliness” by Chris Segrin in Health Communication. Published online October 20, 2017. doi:10.1080/10410236.2017.1384434