Global Wellness Digest

Social Wellness is a component of global wellness. It is the human dimension, the human connection. Social wellness refers to your relationships with others. It involves developing and building close bonds of friendship, practicing empathy and effective listening,

According to research, socially isolated people are more susceptible to illnesses and might have a higher death rate.

Based on anecdotal evidence, people with strong social network tend to handle stress better.

Friendships contribute to higher levels of immunoglobulin.

Tactile actions such as touching, stroking and hugging are known to improve our mental well-being as well. Couples in love and young parents know this well enough. Of course, sexual intercourse counts too and sits at the intersection of physical wellness, mental wellness and social wellness. According to a Singapore sex survey, married couples between the ages of 25-29 years old have sex three to four times a month, compared to married couples between the ages of 30-34 years old who have sex about two to three times a month. These statistics exclude sex outside of marriage eg with friends, relatives, colleagues, sex workers or strangers.

Laugher as we all know is also a good medicine to cure many social wellness ailments.

For those of you who lacks human companionship for whatever reason, pet ownership might be a good proxy.

According to Harvard Medical School, pet ownership, especially having a dog, is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

They found that dog ownership is associated with lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, although further studies are needed to fully validate this.

Some practical tips for you: participate in social events, join a club, visit good friends and nice relatives, volunteer in your community, play golf with friends, join a country club such as Singapore Island Country Club or Sentosa Golf Club which ranks amongst the world’s Top 100 golf courses.