Seeman T E
Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089, USA.
Ann Epidemiol. 1996 Sep;6(5):442-51. doi: 10.1016/s1047-2797(96)00095-6.
This article explores the relationship between level of social integration and various aspects of health. A search of the literature published since the mid-1970s (under the MEDLINE key words, "social ties," "social network," "social isolation," "social environment") presented strong evidence that social integration leads to reduced mortality risks, and to a better state of mental health. The evidence on physical health outcomes is less conclusive. There is no consistent evidence that social integration affects the incidence of disease (at least for cardiovascular outcomes). However, social integration does appear to have a highly beneficial effect on post-myocardial infarction prognosis (functioning and longevity). A physiologic basis for these effects on health outcomes is also indicated by research demonstrating that both social isolation and nonsupportive social interactions can result in lower immune function and higher neuroendocrine and cardiovascular activity while socially supportive interactions have the opposite effects. In conclusion, available data suggest that, although social integration is generally associated with better health outcomes, the quality of existing ties also appears to influence the extent of such health benefits. Clearly, individuals' networks of social relationships represent dynamic and complex social systems that affect health outcomes.
本文探讨了社会融合程度与健康各个方面之间的关系。对20世纪70年代中期以来发表的文献（以MEDLINE关键词“社会关系”“社会网络”“社会隔离”“社会环境”进行检索）进行的研究提供了有力证据，表明社会融合可降低死亡风险，并改善心理健康状况。关于身体健康结果的证据则不那么确凿。没有一致的证据表明社会融合会影响疾病的发病率（至少对于心血管疾病结果而言）。然而，社会融合似乎对心肌梗死后的预后（功能和寿命）具有非常有益的影响。研究还表明了这些对健康结果产生影响的生理基础，即社会隔离和缺乏支持的社会互动都会导致免疫功能降低、神经内分泌和心血管活动增强，而具有社会支持性的互动则会产生相反的效果。总之，现有数据表明，虽然社会融合通常与更好的健康结果相关，但现有关系的质量似乎也会影响这种健康益处的程度。显然，个人的社会关系网络代表着影响健康结果的动态且复杂的社会系统。
