It is widely recognized that social connection plays a key role in longevity. People who are lonely or socially isolated experience more health problems and die younger.1 A lack of social participation is also linked to an increased risk of developing dementia.2 Given the negative implications of poor social connectedness, social interaction is now regularly prescribed in formal guidelines for promoting healthy aging, alongside other modifiable lifestyle factors such as avoiding smoking and taking part in regular exercise.3
People access social interaction through a variety of sources. For instance, some may spend most of their time with their spouse, whereas others may live alone and rely on community groups for interaction. While it is clear that prioritizing social interaction in older age is important, one question remains: Does the type of social interaction matter?
Recent research suggests that it does. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study in the United States, researchers examined social activity participation in more than 5,000 people aged 50 years and older. They looked at engagement in social activities such as volunteering, taking an educational or training course, going to a sporting or social club event, meeting with friends and family members, and playing games like chess or cards. The results showed that people who had more variety in their day-to-day social activities had a lower........