More Variety in Your Social Life in Old Age May Help You Live Longer

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

Does the type of social interaction matter?

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 mortality risk, and this effect was strongest in people in older age.⁴

Other research has shown that having a more diverse social network might protect against mortality. Using a large sample of more than 6,000 people over 65 years of age, the researchers examined how much contact people had with children, neighbours, friends, and other relatives. After controlling for social network size, they found that those with higher diversity within their social networks had a lower mortality rate.⁵

Why are more diverse social lives good for us in older age?

Diversity in our social lives is clearly important for living a longer life. But why might this be? Greater diversity in social activities leads to more cognitive, emotional, and physical engagement. As the old saying goes, "Use it or lose it"—by participating in more varied social activities, you could be protecting yourself from experiencing age-related decline. Engaging in a variety of social activities and with a diverse range of social partners also means that there are more opportunities to give and receive social support, which is important for feeling a sense of purpose and fulfillment in our lives. Finally, a more diverse social life may lead to healthier lifestyle choices. Recent work has shown that older adults who have more encounters with peripheral social ties (i.e., those not considered to be close friends or family) tend to be more physically active,⁶ which has clear implications for health and wellbeing.

How can we improve the diversity of our social life in older age?

You’re convinced, and now you want to add some variety to your social life. Where do you start? First and foremost, think about the types of activities that you feel you would enjoy doing most. This is important because having a genuine interest in an activity means you will be more likely to stick to it, which is important for establishing regular interaction and developing meaningful relationships.

Do you enjoy exercise or engaging in physical activity? If so, then perhaps a local exercise group or joining a sports club might suit you. Depending on where you live, there are often free exercise classes available to senior citizens. Do you have a school reunion coming up? Why not go along and reconnect with some old friends? Is there a new skill you have always been keen on learning but never got around to it? If so, enroll in a course or join an interest group—there is a high chance you will meet like-minded individuals who share similar interests to you. Do you see your grandchildren often? If not, make it a regular thing, and if they are old enough, let them suggest new activities to do each time you meet.

There is a plethora of evidence showing that volunteering has numerous benefits on older adults’ health and well-being,⁷ including increasing social integration, and it’s a nice way to give back to your local community. If you haven’t done so already, see what opportunities are available near you.

Whatever you do, don’t just sit there and wait for social interaction to come to you. The time is now—get out there and start socialising!