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In several disciplines such as business management and health, there has been research conducted on the importance of support networks for disease prevention, stress-management, job satisfaction and performance, and creativity.
Support and Work
The current research in business reports that meaningful social connections increases an individual's engagement with her work and has been associated with high levels of work satisfaction. In the absence of support, individuals feel less valued for their abilities, lack enthusiasm, and have increased stress, decreased performance and low job satisfaction. In addition, relationships between people also foster creative activity. Although creative individuals are often thought of as working in isolation, much of their intelligence and creativity results from interaction and collaboration with other individuals.
Support and Health
The current research on health care reports that social relationships serve important social, psychological, and behavioral functions across the lifespan. A review of 81 studies revealed that social support had beneficial effects on aspects of the cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems. Study after study find that people who feel lonely are many times more likely to get cardiovascular disease than those who have a strong sense of connection and community. Dr. Ornish says, “I'm not aware of any other factor in medicine—not diet, not smoking, not exercise, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery—that has a greater impact on our quality of life, incidence of illness and premature death.”
Support and Women
Scientists as UCLA discovered that women respond to stress with a cascade of brain chemicals that cause them to make and maintain friendships with other women. When the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman, it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to gather with other women instead. This leads to a release of more oxytocin which further counters stress and produces a calming effect. Gathering with others also reduces the risk of disease, death, and physical impairments. Not having close friends or confidants is as detrimental to health as smoking or carrying extra weight. |
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