Human First

Strong evidence

Social connection and how long we live

Do relationships affect whether we survive, or only how we feel?

Bottom line

Across 148 studies and about 309,000 people, those with stronger social relationships had 50% higher odds of survival over the study periods1. The researchers judged the effect comparable to well-established risk factors for death3.

The largest early synthesis on this question pooled 148 studies with 308,849 participants. People with stronger social relationships had a 50% increased likelihood of survival (odds ratio 1.50)1.

The result was not driven by one group. It held across age, sex, initial health status, cause of death and length of follow-up2, and the authors concluded that the influence of relationships on mortality risk is comparable with well-established risk factors3.

Relationships also show up in day-to-day feelings. In US Gallup data, loneliness was among the relatively stronger predictors of daily emotional well-being, alongside health, caregiving and smoking4.

What this does not show

  • These are observational studies. They show a strong association, not proof that adding relationships causes longer life.
  • The studies measured relationships in different ways, and the authors report that the size of the effect differed by type of measure.

Claims and sources

  1. A meta-analysis of 148 studies (308,849 participants) found a 50% increased likelihood of survival for people with stronger social relationships (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.42 to 1.59).

    Research finding Strong evidence

  2. The association was consistent across age, sex, initial health status, cause of death and follow-up period.

    Research finding Strong evidence

  3. The authors concluded that the influence of social relationships on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality.

    Research finding Strong evidence

  4. In more than 450,000 US Gallup responses, health, caregiving, loneliness and smoking were relatively stronger predictors of daily emotional well-being than income and education.

    Research finding Moderate evidence

    • Kahneman D, Deaton A (2010). High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1011492107

Version 1. First published , updated . Approved by The Human First editors on . Sources last verified 2026-10-24. Machine-readable version.