University of California, Los Angeles (USA).
Span J Psychol. 2020 Oct 20;23:e41. doi: 10.1017/SJP.2020.35.
Social ties are the most important resource human beings have. Although other people can be difficult and challenging, they can also provide protection, solace, and social support, among other benefits. However, some relationships can be toxic and because these adverse conditions can be physiologically taxing, they can negatively affect both mental and physical health. Changes such as these can operate in large part through alterations in the sympathetic nervous system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, and the immune system. Much of the benefit of social support is perceptual and stems from the comfort of believing that supportive others can or will be there when times are stressful. The abilities to gain and perceive social support begin early in life and are heavily influenced by the climate of the family. Social support depends, in part, on reciprocity, yet many challenges to receiving support exist. Giving support to others has its own psychological and physiological benefits, although at intense levels, such as demanding caregiving responsibilities, these benefits dwindle. Moreover, social support needs change over time with changing circumstances. Public policy efforts to help people build and capitalize on their potential support networks is essential to maximize the impact of social ties on mental and physical health.
社会关系是人类拥有的最重要的资源。尽管其他人可能很难相处和具有挑战性，但他们也可以提供保护、安慰和社会支持等好处。然而，有些关系可能是有毒的，因为这些不利条件可能会对身体造成生理上的负担，从而对身心健康产生负面影响。这些变化在很大程度上可以通过交感神经系统、下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺系统和免疫系统的改变来运作。社会支持的大部分好处是感知上的，源于相信有支持性的他人在压力大的时候会在身边或愿意在身边的安慰。获得和感知社会支持的能力在生命早期就开始了，并受到家庭氛围的强烈影响。社会支持部分取决于互惠，但接受支持存在许多挑战。给予他人支持有其自身的心理和生理益处，但在高强度水平下，如需要照顾责任，这些益处会减少。此外，社会支持需求会随着时间的推移和环境的变化而变化。公共政策努力帮助人们建立和利用他们潜在的支持网络对于最大限度地发挥社会关系对身心健康的影响至关重要。
