hexa-volume

Analysis

Health Equity through Analytics (HExA): Social connectedness

Understanding the importance of human connection in health outcomes

Social connectedness is one of the fundamental drivers of health, established over time through physical interactions within families and communities. Our two-part volume delves into the health benefits of socializing and offers insights to better understand the relationship between social and community networks as determinants of health, the impact of loneliness on health, and how enhanced connectedness can lead to improved health outcomes.

How can social connectedness impact health outcomes?

The Deloitte Health Equity Institute’s Health Equity through Analytics (HExA) series explores relationships between drivers of health—the social, environmental, and economic factors that influence health—and health outcomes, identifying actionable trends through a quantitative lens. The main goals of the HExA series are to deepen our knowledge on drivers of health, detangle and segment analyses, and share knowledge broadly in order to inspire conversation and catalyze collaborations that ultimately address root causes.

We recognize that health care issues can be highly nuanced, complex, and multifactorial. Therefore, we require additional real-world research to keep building the evidence base—and this series is just the first step.

Social connectedness as a driver of health

The data underscores the significance of social connections in shaping health outcomes. This volume, the second in our series, explores population-level physical social connectedness—both within the family unit and broadly within a community—and its potential implications for health. Download the report to explore our main findings and learn more about how social connectedness and community health are interwoven.

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Social connectedness is the degree to which people have and perceive a desired number, quality, and diversity of relationships that create a sense of belonging, and being cared for, valued, and supported.

Our analysis connects the geo-specific average family structure with the prevalence of chronic conditions in those geographies. We find that household size and composition, particularly in lower-income areas, can have significant implications for health outcomes.

Unpacking the data

Our research uncovered a bidirectional link between family structure and economic wellbeing at a county level that appears to translate to chronic condition health outcomes for the county, particularly for the lower third of income counties.

Social connectedness and health can be bidirectional and cyclical

Chronic conditions can require at-home management and can be mentally and physically burdensome. Conversely, loneliness and social isolation have been associated with poorer health outcomes through biological, psychological, and behavioral pathways. Our other key findings include:

  • Household dynamics varied between income groups, with a differential effect on health outcomes. Understanding these dynamics can help fill gaps in health equity.
  • Partnership in the household, especially in lower-income communities, can act as a form of wealth and improve health outcomes.
  • Single parent households across all income groups, generally, could benefit from increased social connectedness and support.

Community social structure encompasses the networks and spaces that facilitate social interaction and support, contributing to overall community health.

Our research highlights the importance of third places—community spaces outside of home and work—in fostering social connectedness and, in turn, enhancing health outcomes. This insight has us asking: How can community leaders and stakeholders help develop and sustain an infrastructure that’s most relevant to the people they serve in order to improve health outcomes?

Unpacking the data

The kinds of community-level third places that are associated with better mental and physical health vary between income groups. However, the availability of community centers is generally associated with better health outcomes and is specific to the community it serves.

Tailoring social infrastructure could be the key to diverse community health needs

Different communities have different needs when it comes to achieving better population health, so any potential investment or intervention should be community driven and relevant. Our key findings include:

  • In lower-income counties, better mental and physical health was associated with an increase in social and civic organizations.
  • In middle-income counties, better mental and physical health was associated with an increase in libraries and archives.
  • In upper-income counties, better mental and physical health was associated with an increase in child day care centers.

Communities are bound not only by geography but can also be bound by the local community resources that foster social connectedness and combat isolation. Each community may be unique in their needs for specific social infrastructure and third places. To better meet people where they are, providing accessible physical spaces to encourage and foster civic and community engagement may improve overall community health and wellness.

Dive deeper into the HExA data
From analyzing the link between family structures and chronic conditions to exploring the role of community engagement in overall wellness, our complete report examines the intricacies of social connectedness and its influence on health outcomes.


Download the report

Empower health through social ties: Strategies for stakeholders

Explore how health care ecosystem stakeholders can support social connectedness. Whether you’re a provider, payer, or community leader, learn how you can help foster environments that can enhance health outcomes through strengthened social ties.

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How health care providers can contribute

For families: Providers may be able to benefit from a patient’s social network and connectedness to help address their health needs. Understanding and incorporating household members into treatment plans and prescribing social engagement, particularly for chronic conditions, may enhance the patient's overall wellness and outcomes.

For communities: Providers may be able to tailor treatment plans based on a patient’s community engagement, incorporating time spent in libraries, parks, and other public spaces, as well as amongst friends and family. Patients can also be educated on the importance of social connectedness for their health, and clinics could potentially maintain a directory of community spaces relevant to their patient population to support any social prescribing practices.

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How health care payers can provide support

For families: Insurers may be able to support a member’s health journey by encouraging the use of social and community resources, either through resource education and awareness campaigns, or through direct coverage of services that address social isolation like therapy or subsidized membership to local community spaces like recreation facilities. Employers may also encourage and subsidize social and community resources, either through employer-sponsored health plans or separately through wellness benefits.

For communities: Insurers may be able to support a member’s health journey by encouraging community engagement, either through resource education and awareness campaigns or through subsidized membership to local community spaces like recreation facilities. Also, employers at large, whether through employee sponsored health plans or through independent programs, can work to foster social connections and community spaces within their networks and in the communities that they operate. This can take on many forms including organized activities for employees and their families, or dedicated groups and forums at work for employees that share interests.

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How community leaders can take action

For families: Based on our findings, it’s apparent that household structure may have an impact on health outcomes. Specifically, the lack of partnership, in households with and without children, appears to be associated with poorer health outcomes, particularly in lower income counties. Local leaders and stakeholders can foster an environment that promotes quality, supportive partnership. This can take on many forms, including but not limited to education on the importance of social connectedness, resources on relationship development and health maintenance, and creation of tangible spaces for the community to physically come together and nurture these partnerships.

For communities: Community leaders might consider tailoring and allocating the resources for community spaces to fit each a community’s unique needs. There should be a concerted effort to not only develop and maintain common spaces for community members, but to also encourage their use through awareness campaigns. Leaders may also be able to connect local healthcare systems and community organizations for better continuity from the social prescribing practices and the engagement of the community.

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Get in touch

If you’d like to talk more about social connectedness as a driver of health, or the emerging opportunities our strategies can present for your organization, let’s have a conversation. Reach out to learn how Deloitte can help your company so it can achieve its goals.

Elya Papoyan, MPH
Data and Analytics Manager
The Deloitte Health Equity Institute
Deloitte Services LP

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