Listen to Jordan Mathis, BRHD Health Officer, talk about social connectedness, and learn about a new leadership book club to increase your social connectedness!
We all want to live a happy life, but what does research say about actually achieving it?
A recent report from the Surgeon General 1 highlights our growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation. Since 2003, social isolation has increased, while social engagement with friends and family has declined.
This trend predates the COVID-19 pandemic, which only exacerbated it. Two decades earlier, Dr. Robert Putnam highlighted growing social isolation in his book, “Bowling Alone.”
Putnam analyzed data from nearly half a million interviews to illustrate how we have become increasingly disconnected from our families, friends, and communities. We participate in fewer petitions, belong to fewer organizations, know our neighbors less, and spend less time socializing with friends and family. He warns that our social capital—the very fabric of our connections with one another—has significantly declined, impoverishing both our lives and our communities.2
One potential antidote to the growing issues of isolation and loneliness is the revitalization of what
sociologist Ray Oldenburg referred to as the “third place.” 3 If addressing social isolation involves
enhancing these third places, it raises the question of what our first and second places are. Your first
place is your home, while your second place is usually your workplace or school, depending on your
stage in life. A third place is an additional space where people can gather for informal social interactions
that contribute to our overall happiness. A good third place is where individuals engage in enough
repeated connections and conversations to begin to feel like a community.4
In one of the longest-running and most comprehensive studies on human happiness, researchers from
Harvard tracked 724 teenagers through every stage of their adult lives since 1938. Some participants are
still alive today, and the findings highlight what we need to do to live a healthy and happy life.
Robert Waldinger, a professor and psychiatrist, has directed the study for over 20 years. One of the key
findings is that good relationships contribute to greater happiness and health. Waldinger explained, “The
people who were most satisfied with their relationships at age 50 were the ones who were the healthiest
at age 80.” The study consistently showed that those who thrived were the individuals who nurtured their
connections with family, friends, and their community. 5
In a recent podcast, Professor Waldinger was asked about the best ways for people to lead a happy and
healthy life. He responded, “Two things. Engage with people and engage in things you care about. So
ideally, engage in things you care about with people you care about.” 6
Who is responsible for creating opportunities that foster community connections and social engagement?
The encouraging news is that we don’t have to wait for the government or private sector to introduce new
programs or innovations to tackle this issue. The power to combat the epidemic of isolation and loneliness
lies within each of us. We can explore both new and traditional ways to connect with our family, friends,
neighbors, and the broader community. We can begin to revive existing third places or create new ones
where we can engage with people and activities that matter to us.
In that spirit, beginning in early 2025, BRHD will be hosting a book club focused on engaging in dialogue
around leadership practice. Anyone interested in being part of this book club can register by clicking on
the registration link below.
3 The Great Good Place (1989)