20 Oct 2026 02:00
How important is a social life?
Introvert or extrovert, we've all been told about the importance of social connection to our health.
Isolation can have knock-on effects for your brain health – and the health of the rest of your body.
Norman and Tegan unpack how many friends the average person "needs" and what happens when you're alone but not lonely.
References:
- Social ties and health: the benefits of social integration
- Social isolation: a predictor of mortality comparable to traditional clinical risk factors
- The Connection Prescription: Using the Power of Social Interactions and the Deep Desire for Connectedness to Empower Health and Wellness
- Friendships, Subjective Age, and Life Satisfaction of Women in Midlife
- The American Friendship Project: A report on the status and health of friendship in America
- Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death – World Health Organization
- Differential Social Cognitive Performance in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
- Introvert vs Social Anxiety: How to tell the difference
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