Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The quality and quantity of individuals' social relationships has been linked not only to mental health but also to both morbidity and mortality.

Objectives

This meta-analytic review was conducted to determine the extent to which social relationships influence risk for mortality, which aspects of social relationships are most highly predictive, and which factors may moderate the risk.

Data extraction

Data were extracted on several participant characteristics, including cause of mortality, initial health status, and pre-existing health conditions, as well as on study characteristics, including length of follow-up and type of assessment of social relationships.

Results

Across 148 studies (308,849 participants), the random effects weighted average effec

SUBMITTER: Holt-Lunstad J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2910600 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature