The Need to Belong: A Review
Social isolation has long been known to be a factor in both physical and psychological health. The need to belong is a widely accepted concept in social psychology that suggests people have an innate psychological need to form and maintain social connections with others (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). This review examines the need to belong, the implications of social isolation, and the implications of belonging, with a particular focus on research in the field of psychology.
The Need to Belong
The need to belong is a basic human need to form and maintain social connections with others (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). People have evolved to be social creatures, and the need to belong is thought to be a core part of the human experience (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). This need to belong is thought to be driven by an innate fear of isolation, which is why people often seek out social connections even when they are not necessary for survival (Baumeister & Leary, 1995).
Implications of Social Isolation
Social isolation can have a variety of negative implications for physical and mental health. Studies have shown that social isolation can lead to increased levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and even physical health problems such as heart disease (Holt-Lunstad, Smith, Baker, Harris, & Stephenson, 2015). Social isolation has also been linked to impaired cognitive functioning, increased risk of mortality, and reduced quality of life (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015).
Implications of Belonging
In contrast to social isolation, research has shown that social belonging can have positive implications for physical and mental health. Studies have shown that people who feel a sense of belonging to a social group are less likely to experience depression, anxiety, and stress (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015). Social belonging has also been linked to increased levels of life satisfaction, greater resilience, improved cognitive functioning, and better physical health (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015).
Conclusion
The need to belong is a widely accepted concept in social psychology, and research in the field has shown that social isolation can have a variety of negative implications for physical and mental health. Conversely, studies have also shown that social belonging can have positive implications for physical and mental health. These findings suggest that people have an innate need to form and maintain social connections with others, and that it is important to nurture these connections in order to maintain physical and psychological wellbeing.
References
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497-529.
Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227-237.