For better health, stress management, and longevity, prioritize strong relationships.
Experts in mind-body medicine (MBM) have long advised that cultivating happiness, well-being, and social connections can mitigate the detrimental effects of chronic stress and enhance overall health. An extensive review of MBM research and its impact on health, conducted by researchers from the German Foundation for Integrative Healthcare and Health Promotion, confirms that common MBM practices, therapies, and interventions promoting a positive mindset, along with love, social connections, and happiness, can mitigate stress and support holistic well-being.
These MBM practices encompass mindfulness techniques, positive psychology, proper nutrition, physical activity, relaxation methods, meditation, and other holistic interventions. These stress-reducing behaviors and practices improve mental and physical health by fostering feelings of rootedness, love, empathy, resilience, and compassion within ourselves and towards others.
Unmanaged stress can lead to cognitive impairment and an overabundance of stress hormones in the body, negatively impacting overall health. Excessive stress hormones can impair mental functions such as memory, learning, and flexibility. Feeling ill-equipped to handle life's challenges can itself be stressful and contribute to physical, mental, spiritual, and social issues.
The researchers discovered that various forms of love, social interaction, and happiness (defined simply as a sense of personal well-being) are deeply interconnected and associated with reduced stress and increased social engagement, ultimately promoting better mental and physical health. Love encompasses romantic love, love for family and friends, or love for pets, and extends to affection for specific places, possessions, and activities.
Love is characterized by feelings of attraction, attachment, excitement, trust, and joy, which activate reward centers in the brain that enhance feelings of happiness. When love is not stressful, its calming effect can induce relaxation, helping to counterbalance an overactive stress response.
Social connectedness—feeling supported and connected to family, friends, and community—offers lifelong mental and physical health benefits and predicts longevity in both healthy individuals and those with chronic illnesses. Therefore, nurturing and maintaining social relationships throughout life is crucial.
Happiness, optimism, laughter, kindness, and a positive personality have all been shown to reduce the risk of illness and premature death in healthy individuals, though their impact on those with chronic illnesses remains unclear. A significant component of happiness is subjective well-being, or how one perceives and experiences their own life rather than how others perceive it. Factors such as personality, socioeconomic status, health, and level of social support can influence subjective well-being and, consequently, overall health.
In conclusion, the researchers suggest that efforts to promote a positive mental state encompassing love, social connection, and overall happiness enhance overall well-being and may prolong life. Since happiness is considered essential for health and well-being, future studies should investigate which recommended health interventions also contribute to an individual's level and perception of happiness. Additionally, the researchers emphasize the importance of examining the impacts of spirituality, culture, motivation, and access to support systems on love, social connectivity, health, and happiness. The aim of mind-body medicine is to enhance overall well-being by reducing negative stress responses that can ultimately lead to physical and mental disorders.