Social Fitness Across Life Stages: A Key to Mental Health and Wellbeing

Siraporn Silphipat; Onouma Thummapol

Authors

Siraporn Silphipat Faculty of Nursing Science, Assumption University
Onouma Thummapol Faculty of Nursing Science, Assumption University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2973-4118

Keywords:

mental health, social fitness, support networks, social interaction, wellbeing

Abstract

Social fitness, the ability to cultivate and maintain meaningful social connections across various life stages, is pivotal in promoting mental health and overall well-being. This concept encompasses key components, including social connections and support networks, social skills and competence, social engagement and inclusion, and social resilience and satisfaction, which play integral roles in shaping individuals’ mental health trajectories across different life stages. This article aims to explore the profound impact of social fitness on mental health and well-being across various life stages. Moreover, it provides insights into understanding the role of social fitness in mental health through its multifaceted components. Social connections and support networks offer emotional support and a sense of belonging that are vital for coping with stress and adversity across all ages. Developing social skills and competence from childhood enables effective communication and relationship-building skills, contributing to better mental health outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. Social engagement and inclusion foster community integration and reduce feelings of isolation, enhancing psychological resilience and overall life satisfaction. Recognizing the diversity of populations and contextual variables is essential for understanding how social fitness influences mental well-being, guiding effective interventions and policies that enhance social connectivity and satisfaction, thereby contributing to healthier and more resilient societies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Human Performance Resources by Champ. What is social fitness? The basics of relationship health for Service Members [internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 February 20]. Available from: https://www.hprc-online.org/social-fitness/relationship-building/what-social-fitness-basics-relationship-health-service-members

Mc Gene J. Social fitness and resilience: a review of relevant constructs, measures, and links to well-being. Rand Health Q. 2014;3(4):7. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28083312/

Jenkins R. How social fitness helps you and your team succeed: separate stranded shipwrecked crews provide a lesson in social connection. Psychology Today [internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 February 20]. Available from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/articles/how-social-fitness-helps-you-and-your-team-succeed

Waldinger RJ, Schulz MS. The good life: lessons from the world's longest study of happiness. Unabridged. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Audio; 2023.

Eather N, Wade L, Pankowiak A, Eime R. The impact of sports participation on mental health and social outcomes in adults: a systematic review and the 'Mental Health through Sport' conceptual model. Syst Rev. 2023;12:102. doi: 10.1186/s13643-023-02264-8

Malm C, Jakobsson J, Isaksson A. Physical activity and sports-real health benefits: a review with insight into the public health of Sweden. Sports (Basel). 2019;7(5):127. doi: 10.3390/sports7050127.

Mills K, Dudley D, Collins NJ. Do the benefits of participation in sport and exercise outweigh the negatives? An academic review. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2019;33(1):172-87. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2019.01.015

Tabassum F, Mohan J, Smith P. Association of volunteering with mental well-being: a lifecourse analysis of a national population-based longitudinal study in the UK. BMJ Open. 2016;6(8): e011327. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011327.

Ishihara T, Nakajima T, Yamatsu K, Okita K, Sagawa M, Morita N. Relationship of participation in specific sports to academic performance in adolescents: a 2-year longitudinal study. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2020;30(8):1471-82. doi: 10.1111/sms.13703

Alotaibi TA, Alkhalifah KM, Alhumaidan NI, Almutiri WA, Alsaleh SA, Alrashdan FM, et al. The benefits of friendships in academic settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cureus. 2023;15(12). doi: 10.7759/cureus.50946.

Nie Y, Richards M, Kubinova R, Titarenko A, Malyutina S, Kozela M, et al. Social networks and cognitive function in older adults: findings from the HAPIEE study. BMC Geriatr. 2021;21(1):570. doi: 10.1186/s12877-021-02531-0.

Wickramaratne PJ, Yangchen T, Lepow L, Patra BG, Glicksburg B, Talati A, et al. Social connectedness as a determinant of mental health: a scoping review. PloS One. 2022;17(10). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275004.

Proctor AS, Barth A, Holt-Lunstad J. A healthy lifestyle is a social lifestyle: The vital link between social connection and health outcomes. Lifestyle Med. 2023;4(4):e91. doi: 0.1002/lim2.91

Allen KA, Slaten CD, Arslan G, Roffey S, Craig H, Vella-Brodrick DA, et al. School belonging: The importance of student and teacher relationships. In: Kern ML, Wehmeyer ML, editors. The palgrave handbook of positive education. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan; 2021.

American Psychological Association. Social skills. In: APA Dictionary of Psychology [internet]. 2018 [cited 2025 February 20]. Available from https://dictionary.apa.org/social-skills

American Psychological Association. Social competence. In: APA Dictionary of Psychology. 2018 [cited 2025 February 20]. Available from https://dictionary.apa.org/social-competence

World Bank. Inclusion matters: the foundation for shared prosperity. Washington, DC: New Frontiers of Social Policy; 2013.

Cacioppo JT, Reis HT, Zautra AJ. Social resilience: the value of social fitness with an application to the military. Am Psychol. 2011;66(1):43-51. doi: 10.1037/a0021419.

Halat HD, Younes S, Safwan J, Akiki Z, Akel A, Rahal M. Pharmacy students' mental health and resilience in COVID-19: an assessment after one year of online education. Eur J Investig Health, Psychol Educ. 2022;12(8):1082-107. doi: 10.3390/ejihpe12080077.

Ghogare AS, Patil PS, Spoorthy MS, Aloney SA, Wasaudeorao B, Ambad R. Depression, anxiety, stress and resilience among undergraduate health sciences students of a rural tertiary healthcare centre in Maharashtra during the Covid-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional, online survey. Natl Med J India. 2022;35(3):147-52. doi: 10.25259/NMJI-35-3-147

Gabrovec B, Selak Š, Crnkovič N, Cesar K, Sorgo A. Perceived satisfaction with online study during COVID-19 lockdown correlates positively with resilience and negatively with anxiety, depression, and stress among Slovenian postsecondary students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(12):7024. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19127024.

Von Hippel W, Henry JD, Matovic D. Aging and social satisfaction: offsetting positive and negative effects. Psychol Aging. 2008;23(2):435-9. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.23.2.435

Kemperman A, van den Berg P, Weijs-Perrée M, Uijtdewillegen K. Loneliness of older adults: social network and the living environment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(3):406. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16030406

Borner KB, Gayes LA, Hall JA. Friendship during childhood and cultural variations. In: Wright JD, editor. International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2015:380-4.

Erikson EH. Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton; 1968.

Pachucki MC, Ozer EJ, Barrat A, Cattuto C. Mental health and social networks in early adolescence: A dynamic study of objectively-measured social interaction behaviors. Soc Sci Med. 2015;125:40-50. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.04.015

Steinberg L, Morris AS. Adolescent development. Annu Rev Psychol. 2001;52(1):83-110. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.83

Rani R. Importance of social skills for adolescents. J Emerg Technol Innov Res. 2019;6(3):175-9. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28711.50084

Oakes K. Social fitness is the biggest predictor of a happy life. here’s how to improve yours. BBC Sci Focus. 2024 [cited 2025 February 20]. Available from: https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/social-fitness

Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood: a theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000;55(5):469-80. Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10842426/

Antonucci T, Okorodudu C, Akiyama H. Well-being among adults on different continents. J Soc Issues. 2002;58:617-26. doi: 10.1111/1540-4560.00280

Rieker JA, Gajewski PD, Reales JM, Ballesteros S, Golka K, Hengstler JG, et al. The impact of physical fitness, social life, and cognitive functions on work ability in middle-aged and older adults. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2023;96:507-20. doi: 10.1007/s00420-022-01943-8

Lachman ME. Development in midlife. Annu Rev Psychol. 2004;55:305-31. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.141521

Ozbay F, Johnson DC, Dimoulas E, Morgan CA, Charney D, Southwick S. Social support and resilience to stress. Psychiatry. 2007;4(5):35-40. doi: Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20806028/

Hsiao Y-H, Chang C-H, Gean P-W. Impact of social relationships on Alzheimer’s memory impairment: Mechanistic studies. J Biomed Sci. 2018;25:3. doi: 10.1186/s12929-018-0404-x

Chiao C, Weng L-J, Botticello AL. Social participation reduces depressive symptoms among older adults: an 18-year longitudinal analysis in Taiwan. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:292. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-292

Aroogh DM, Shahboulaghi MF. Social participation of older adults: a concept analysis. Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery. 2020;8(1):55-72. doi: 10.30476/IJCBNM.2019.82222.1055

Vudhironarit S, Wongjan J, Uraisipong K, Manasatchakun P. Trajectories of engagement in social activities for active aging: a case study of older adult schools in Thailand. Nurs J Minist Public Health. 2023;33(2):138-49. (in Thai)

Whear R, Campbell F, Rogers M, Sutton A, Robinson-Carter E, Sharpe R, et al. What is the effect of intergenerational activities on the wellbeing and mental health of older people?: a systematic review. Campbell Syst Rev. 2023;19(4):pages. doi: 10.1002/cl2.1355

Power J, Steptoe A, Kee F, Lawlor BA. Loneliness and social engagement in older adults: a bivariate dual change score analysis. Psychol Aging. 2019;34(1):1-10. doi: 10.1037/pag0000287

Suebvises P. Social capital, citizen participation in public administration, and public sector performance in Thailand. World Dev. 2018;109:236-48. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.05.007

Chayomchai A, Petmee P, Treemek W, Sarnthong J, Autum J, Ngao-ngam R. Recreation in the elderly Thai people: Supporting, motivation, satisfaction, and benefit view of recreational activities. J Humanit Soc Sci Rajapruk Univ. 2020;6(3):177-93. (in Thai)

Thavinpipathkul D, Tanamee L. The patterns of social interaction and integrative mechanisms in communities in the northern Bangkok extended metropolitan region: a case study of Pathumthani province. J Humanit. 2006;9(12):1-15. (in Thai)

Jitsaeng K. The use of social media among Thai youths for political communication. J Contemp Soc Sci Humanit. 2023;10(1):1-10. doi:10.3390/ejihpe12080077.

Thianthai C. What does social media have to do with health? A case study of Bangkok youths. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2018;33(1). doi: 10.1515/ijamh-2018-0058.

Aunkamol P. Social participation, self-esteem and life satisfaction of the elderly at Jatuchak District in Bangkok Metropolitan. Thai J Gerontol Geriatr. 2019;22(1):125-36. (in Thai)

van der Hulst RC. Introduction to Social Network Analysis (SNA) as an investigative tool. Trends Organ Crime. 2009;12:101-121. doi: 10.1007/s12117-008-9057-6

Zimet GD, Dahlem NW, Zimet SG, Farley GK. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. J Pers Assess. 1988;52(1):30-41. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2

Russell DW. UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure. J Pers Assess. 1996;66(1):20-40. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa6601_2

Riggio RE, Tucker J, Coffaro D. Social skills and empathy. Pers Individ Dif. 1989;10(1):93-99. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(89)90184-0

McCormack B, McCance T. Development of a framework for person‐centred nursing. J Adv Nurs. 2006;56(5):472-79. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.04042

Cervantes BR, Allman M, Walton QL, Jouriles EN, Sharp C. Considerations in cultural adaptation of parent-child interventions for African American mothers and children exposed to intimate partner violence. Front Psychol. 2024;15:1295202. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1295202

Griner D, Smith TB. Culturally adapted mental health intervention: a meta-analytic review. Psychother. 2006;43(4):531-48. doi: 10.1037/0033-3204.43.4.531

Bitsko RH, Claussen AH, Lichstein J, Black LI, Jones SE, Danielson ML, et al. Mental health surveillance among children - United States, 2013-2019. MMWR Suppl. 2022;71(2):1-42. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.su7102a1

Helliwell JF, Layard R, Sachs JD, De Neve J, Aknin LB, Wang S. World Happiness Report 2023 [internet]. 2023 [cite 2025 February 18]. Available from: https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2023/