Chapter
5
Social Health
Elizabeth Lytle, MPH, BSN, RN
Los Altos School District
In This Chapter, Learn About Relationships
Communication
• Improve skills
• Understand differences
Attributes of relationships
• Health benefits
• Science of love
• Long-term relationship characteristics
Online social networks
Create Close Ties With Other People
Supportive relationships
protect people from stress,
distress and disease
Your Social Network Affects Your Health
Process in which friends, friends of
Social
friends, acquaintances and social
Contagion circle affect health
Health factors change in clusters
Is it real?
• Obesity in one person made friends
57% more likely to become obese
• Smoking in one person made friends
35% more likely to start smoking
Two Skills That Will Improve Communication
1. Learn to Listen
Try to understand feelings and motivation
Ask questions when you don’t understand
Prompt person to continue talking
2. Be Agreeable, but Assertive
Make needs and desires clear
Use non-provocative words
Men And Women Communicate Differently
Men
Talk to demonstrate superiority
Interrupt to get information
E-mails are brief and utilitarian
Online conversations more likely to include
strong assertions, sarcasm and disagreement
with others
Men And Women Communicate Differently
Women
Talk to draw people closer
Likely to wait rather than interrupt
Writing uses more words related to emotion
E-mails are written similar to spoken word to
build connection with audience
Online Sites Have Increased Social Networks
Keep in touch with acquaintances
Support from acquaintances is
Pros meaningful
Maintain relationships, make new
friend
Private events become public
Can be used to humiliate, bully,
Cons harass or stalk
Takes time and attention away from
other responsibilities
Psychological View Of Love
6 Types Of Love
• Liking
• Infatuation
• Romantic Love
• Compassionate Love
• Fatuous Love
• Consummate Love
3 Components Of Love
Anthropological View Of Love
A near universal experience for all cultures
• Primitive, basic human emotion
Historically, it pulled people together for
•
child-rearing
Four-year ‘itch’ is present across
•
cultures
Biochemical View Of Love
Love causes changes in the brain
•
Causes release of stimulants: Dopamine,
norepinephrine, phenylethylamine
After initial infatuation, love causes release
•
of endorphins
Endorphins and stimulants create the
physical symptoms of love and the feelings of
well-being, security and tranquility of longerlasting relationships
Dysfunctional Relationships Harm Health
Dysfunctional Does not promote healthy
communication, honesty and
Relationship intimacy
Headaches
Physical
Symptoms
Digestive Trouble
Difficulty Sleeping
It takes a lot of time and energy to change a
dysfunctional relationship
Beware Of Abuse In Relationships
Abuse
Behavior to control another person
- fear, humiliation, verbal or
physical assault
Constant berating, belittling or
Emotional criticism
Abuse Wears away at trust, self-worth
and belief in self
Reach out to your friends and family for help if
you think you are in an abusive relationship
Codependency
Defined
Behavior learned by family
members to survive great pain and
stress of their loved one’s
addiction or illness
Individual and group therapy
Treatment Education
Codependents Anonymous
Transitioning To Adulthood
Successful Transition Includes:
 Completing school
 Establishing independent household
 Being employed full-time
 Marriage and children (possibly)
Cohabitation Has Become More Common
Reasons couples decide to live together:

Economic

Social acceptance of cohabitation

More time together

‘Test’ relationship

Alternative to marriage
Same-Sex Couples
Relationship follows familiar stages
• Intense passion and romantic love
• Starting home together
• Building trust and dependability
• Establishing strong partnership
Experience more social isolation
Use more affection and humor during
disagreements
Marriage Brings Benefits And Challenges
Benefits
Better physical and mental health
Longer life
Less disease and common illnesses
Requires preparation
Common challenges require effort
Challenges
• money, sex and careers
Divorce rate remains 50%
Common Issues In Long-Term Relationships
Money
Sex
Extramarital Affairs
Two-Career Couples
Conflict
Suggestions For Relationship Success
Focus on friendship
Remember the beginning
Show respect
Compliment your partner
Forgive one another
Keep positive interactions more frequent
than negative interactions