NEW YORK, July 24: Recent research highlights that your social network could be as crucial to your health as your exercise routine. David Robson, author of The Laws of Connection, explores how our relationships can significantly influence our well-being and longevity.

The World Health Organization recently established a Commission on Social Connection, emphasizing its role as a global health priority. Research has long shown that people with strong social networks tend to be healthier and live longer than those who feel isolated.

David Robson's book delves into the "biopsychosocial" model, which links social interactions to various health outcomes. Studies have found that social connections can affect everything from immune system strength to heart disease risk. For instance, early research by Lester Breslow in the 1960s identified social connection as a critical factor in longevity, with subsequent studies reinforcing these findings.

The 1979 research by Lisa Berkman and S. Leonard Syme revealed that people with more social ties had a significantly lower risk of mortality. This finding remains influential, even as science has evolved to understand the connections between social ties and health more deeply.

A notable 1990s study by Sheldon Cohen at Carnegie Mellon University showed that individuals with richer social networks had a lower risk of developing colds when exposed to viruses. This underscores the protective effects of social connections on immune function.

Additionally, research has linked strong social ties to reduced risks of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Julianne Holt-Lunstad's 2010 review of 148 studies found that social relationships have a greater impact on health and mortality than factors like alcohol consumption and exercise.

Despite criticisms over the need for controlled experiments, consistent evidence across diverse studies supports the notion that social connections play a crucial role in health. The evolutionary perspective suggests that our brains and bodies are designed to prioritize social interactions for survival, making social health essential to overall well-being.

In conclusion, fostering strong social ties can enhance health as effectively as maintaining a fitness regimen. Robson's insights suggest that even those who are naturally introverted can benefit from developing and nurturing their social connections.