Americas Unhealthy Social Connections

A recent comparison of the mental and physical health of American and British people raises some intriguing questions. Here’s a few key data points:

• Americans spend 2.5 more on health care than British – yet have higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, lung disease, and cancer.
• The richest, healthiest Americans are as sick as the poorest Brits.
• Americans work far longer than Brits (and other Europeans), and are more likely to hold two jobs – virtually unheard of in Britain.

In searching for explanations, the focus goes to the fact that Americans seem to value wealth and work over social connections. One reason for this can be seen in the lack of social safety nets Americans face. Compare Britain, which like most European countries, has a far more humane social system: in Britain there is still both a company and a government pension; health care is free. Americans, by contrast, live in fear of losing health care, not having enough money to retire on, or huge education bills.

Add to America’s cultural malaise the fact that Mr Joe Average Americans network of friends seems to be shrinking. Between 1985 and 2005, the average number of personal friends American people reported dropped from three to two. By contrast, British and other European cultures place more importance on social connections than money. In Britain, for instance, every neighborhood has a pub, a place where neighbors go most nights to get together. By contrast, Americans disappear into their homes, doors locked.

This shrinking of personal contact may itself take a health toll. Carnegie Mellon psychologist Sheldon Cohen has found the more personal relationships a person has, the more healthy they are.

So get off Facebook and these social internet sites and go to the pub….even if like me you don’t drink alcohol, its still better for your health to socialize face-to-face…..