Connected lives, healthier lives: importance of social connection as a social determinant of health

Abstract

A substantial proportion of health differences between individuals is not explained by medical factors. This observation has contributed to the emergence and consolidation of the field of social determinants of health (SDOH), which examines how non-medical influences at different societal levels shape health outcomes. Typically, a distinction is made between education, neighbourhood and physical environment, access to care, work and economic stability, and social context. The latter refers to the social environments in which individuals are embedded, including social connection (defined as the structure, function and quality of social contacts), as well as broader collective features such as social cohesion, trust, and social norms. However, evidence on the role of social context, and in particular social connection, remains fragmented across disciplines and is relatively under-integrated in public health research, despite a growing body of literature. In this presentation, we position social connection as a central, yet often underestimated, determinant within the broader SDOH framework. We provide an overview of key constructs and models used to study social connection, with an emphasis on their relevance for public health research. We then synthesize current evidence demonstrating how social connection influences physical and mental health, highlighting potential mechanisms including behavioural, social and biological pathways. Using social connection as a case study, we further illustrate the interdependence of SDOH, showing how social context determinants interact with educational, economic, environmental, and healthcare-related factors to shape health inequalities. By clarifying these relationships and identifying remaining gaps in the literature, this session highlights the importance of systematically incorporating social connection into public health research and interventions, and offers concrete directions for doing so.