Social networks and support can be defined as "contact with, and support from, family and friends"[1]
Social networks provide social, emotional and financial support to individuals while connecting them to other groups, people and opportunities. The support that people receive through social networks is connected to better health[2] and can also enhance overall community wellbeing.[3]
Indicator
Close Connections with Family and Friends |
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Relationships built on strong emotional ties with family and friends provide emotional support, as well as a comfortable place to share stories, opinions, and feelings.[4] Being connected to a social network can also help people overcome mental health struggles.[5] Social support networks may also protect people against premature death, other causes of mortality and disease and help people cope with stress.[2,6] Social connections can affect several health behaviors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, snacking habits and obesity.[7,8,9] Although there are a few types of social networks with negative consequences (e.g. criminal gangs), most often social networks have positive impacts on individuals and their communities.[6] MeasuresIn 2013, just over half of all Canadians 15 years of age or older had a close connection with five or more family members and/or friends.
There are no local measures for social connection available at this time.
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References
[1] Harper, R. & Kelly, M. (2003) Measuring Social Capital in the United Kingdom.Office for National Statistics as cited in: Scott, K. (2010). Community Vitality A Report of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing. Available at: https://uwaterloo.ca/canadian-index-wellbeing/sites/ca.canadian-index-wellbeing/files/uploads/files/CommunityVitality_DomainReport.sflb_.pd
[2] Public Health Agency of Canada (2013) What makes Canadians Healthy or Unhealthy? Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/determinants/determinants-eng.php#unhealthy
[3] Government of Canada (2015). Social Participation - Social Networks. Available at: http://well-being.esdc.gc.ca/misme-iowb/.3ndic.1t.4r@-eng.jsp?iid=72
[4] Sinha M. (2014). Spotlight on Canadians: Results from the General Social Survey: Canadians' connections with family and friends. Statistics Canada: Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division. Available at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-652-x/89-652-x2014006-eng.pdf
[5] Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2015). Informing the Future: Mental Health Indicators for Canada, Ottawa, ON: Author.
[6] Scott, K. (2010). Community Vitality A Report of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing. Available at: https://uwaterloo.ca/canadian-index-wellbeing/sites/ca.canadian-index-wellbeing/files/uploads/files/CommunityVitality_DomainReport.sflb_.pdf
[7] Christakis, N. A., Fowler, J. H. (2008). The Collective Dynamics of Smoking in a Large Social Network Profile. The New England Journal of Medicine (358): 2249-2258.
[8] Pachucki, M. A., Jacques, P. F., Christakis, N. A. (2011). Social Network Concordance in Food Choice Among Spouses, Friends, and Siblings. American Journal of Public Health 101 (11): 2170-2177.
[9] Christakis, N.A., Fowler, J.H. (2007). The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years.New England Journal of Medicine 357: 370-379.