ArticleWorld psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA)2024
Social connection as a critical factor for mental and physical health: evidence, trends, challenges, and future implications.
Article in World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 175 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
175 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Association of Social Support With Oral Health in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Gerodontology · 2026Pooled it
- The invisible wall: experiences of social isolation in colorectal cancer patients with ostomy-a qualitative meta-synthesis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Pooled it
- Domain-specific physical activity and mental health: an updated systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis in a combined sample of 3.3 million people.British journal of sports medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Autonomous conversational agents for loneliness, social isolation, depression, and anxiety in older people without cognitive impairment: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Psychological medicine · 2026Pooled it
- The impact of digital interactive interventions on survivorship outcomes in prostate cancer: a systematic narrative review.BMC cancer · 2025Pooled it
- Compassion for others and well-being: a meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2025Pooled it
- The Experiences of Social Connection and Isolation in Adults With Acquired Brain Injury: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Metasynthesis.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Pooled it
- Was the COVID-19 Pandemic a Triggering Factor for PTSD in Adults? Results From A Systematic Review.Actas espanolas de psiquiatria · 2025Pooled it
- The association between social capital and quality of life in old adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of a Digital Peer Support Program on Weight Management and Mental Health in University Students With Preobesity: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2026Trial
- Pedagogical health - a holistic perspective on promoting children's and students' well-being in school.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2026Article
- Plasma proteomic signatures of social support and their association with cardiovascular disease and mortality: exploratory analyses in a national cohort study.GeroScience · 2026Article
- Large-Scale Neuroimaging and Genetic Analyses of the Human Thalamus in Loneliness.Biological psychiatry global open science · 2026Article
- Exploring General Practice Nurses' Experiences of an Intervention to Support Social Connectedness Among Older Adults: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.Journal of clinical nursing · 2026Article
- Ethnic Identity and Chronic Disease Among Asian Americans: The Roles of Community Social Cohesion, Social Networks, and Ethnic Subgroup Differences.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2026Article
- Religious Affiliation, Active Participation, and Social Connectedness in Mainland China: A Trend Analysis of Older Adults, 2012-2023.Journal of religion and health · 2026Article
- Integrated physical and mental healthcare for older adults in Europe: from concept to implementation-a joint EuGMS and EAGP perspectives paper.European geriatric medicine · 2026Article
- Environmental modulation of social isolation-induced sleep loss inbioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Factors associated with loneliness and social capital in a large volunteer sample of adults in England.BMC global and public health · 2026Article
- Caring for the world's youngest and loneliest population requires a change in approach.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2026Article
115 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Rising concerns about social isolation and loneliness globally have highlighted the need for a greater understanding of their mental and physical health implications. Robust evidence documents social connection factors as independent predictors of mental and physical health, with some of the strongest evidence on mortality. Although most data are observational, evidence points to directionality of effects, plausible pathways, and in some cases a causal link between social connection and later health outcomes. Societal trends across several indicators reveal increasing rates of those who lack social connection, and a significant portion of the population reporting loneliness. The scientific study on social isolation and loneliness has substantially extended over the past two decades, particularly since 2020; however, its relevance to health and mortality remains underappreciated by the public. Despite the breadth of evidence, several challenges remain, including the need for a common language to reconcile the diverse relevant terms across scientific disciplines, consistent multi-factorial measurement to assess risk, and effective solutions to prevent and mitigate risk. The urgency for future health is underscored by the potentially longer-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role of digital technologies in societal shifts, that could contribute to further declines in social, mental and physical health. To reverse these trends and meet these challenges, recommendations are offered to more comprehensively address gaps in our understanding, and to foster social connection and address social isolation and loneliness.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.