Comments from Kathryn, the author of this blog and a licensed clinical social worker: The topic of socialization relates to relationships and how we interact with others. These social interactions form the basis of our relationships from birth to death. Socialization is vital for our physical and emotional health and the continued development of society.

In my therapy practice, I have found socialization to be a common topic for older adults, senior citizens. As retirement converges with the aging process and the passing away of friends, their socialization may decrease and their loneliness or depression may increase.

Since the isolation of Covid, one of the emerging topics of interest to even younger adult clients (18-64) is socialization. It is almost as if people have forgotten how to achieve and maintain healthy relationships with others.

Peers and Friends

The concept of being social and having a social life is frequently taken for granted. It shouldn’t. The importance of friendships is not affected by age, race, sex, education, religion, employment, or relationship status. Socialization is important across all categories.

Adults with no social connections to family, friends, neighbors or co-workers fare the worst both psychologically and physically. Not interacting regularly with others can result in a lonely, isolated existence. Physically the cost implications are an increase in high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Psychologically the cost implications are an increase in anxiety and depression.

Working Remotely

A form of geographic distancing was begun during the coronavirus pandemic when many people started working from home and continue to do so. Meetings were held via zoom. It is easy to lose your social connection with others when you never physically see them.

Also, when you are working at home, the only quiet place away from your significant other and children may be working on a card table in the basement with a single dangling light bulb! How isolating is that?

Family

The category of family includes your family of origin (mother, father, siblings) and your family of creation (spouse, significant other, partner, children), and friends so close you call them family.

To enhance socialization:

1. Spend time with family. It doesn’t matter if it is your family of origin, your family of creation, or the friends you call family, spending time with others who care about you and that you care is important.
2. Eat a meal with the family. Eating with the family isn’t just about nutrition for the body, it is about nutrition for the soul. Research has shown eating a family meal once per day can increase your children’s SAT scores.
3. “A problem shared is a problem halved”. Sometimes when you have a problem if you share it with a supportive family member, your problems seem lessened. Internalizing a problem allows it to “take on a life form of its own”.

Friends

Friends were once only acquaintances to you. Somewhere throughout your time together this acquaintance has proven to be trustworthy.

To enhance socialization:

1. Stay socially connected. You will never know if an acquaintance can be a friend until you have spent time together. For your emotional health it is important to work on increasing your social connections with others.
2. Talk with people who have different opinions. It is possible to remain friends with someone who supports a cause or candidate you don’t believe in. This then becomes an opportunity to learn why someone believes differently than you.
3. Meet a friend for coffee. Or meet for breakfast at McDonald’s. For some, especially teens, communication without food can be agonizingly awkward. As adults meeting up with friends is a major opportunity for socializing.

Acquaintances

Acquaintances are all those people we barely know or have little interaction with. They sometimes may seem “invisible” to us.

To enhance socialization:

1. Join or renew your membership to a group or club. The group or club doesn’t matter. It could be HOG (Harley Owners Group), the YMCA or an Amateur Radio Group. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals.
2. Find an exercise partner. The workplace has many incentive programs to get healthy. Some employers offer gift cards if you walk the most steps in a week. Find someone who is motivated to make a change and motivate each other!
3. Take an Adult Education class. Challenge yourself. Never changed a spark plug in a lawn mower? Meet people and learn how at a small engine class at your local Adult Education prog

Phone

In today’s society you cannot discuss socialization without talking about cell phones!

To enhance socialization:

1. Go on a cell phone detox. Spending too much time on your cell phone? Turn it off. Many people use their phones for everything, from an alarm to wake you up to a camera to their news source to their entertainment.
2. Eliminate voice mail. When you purchase a new phone, don’t set up your voice mail. If someone calls you, it will show up on your phone history. You can choose to call them back, or not.
3. Put your cell phone notifications on silent. This is especially true if you are out at a restaurant or at a gathering with family or friends. Talk to the people you are with. For generations, people lived well without being accessible 24/7.

Social Media

There is a difference between social media used for marketing in business and your personal social media accounts.

To enhance socialization:

1. Reduce the number of “friends”, “connections” and “followers” on your social media. Unless it is a business-oriented account, to maintain healthy boundaries keep only the people you personally know on your social media.
2. Take a social media break. Identify a few hours of the day when you will turn off all connections to social media. Social media can be an addiction. When you compare your life to others, frequently you do not feel as good about yourself.
3. Avoid using social media when you are distressed. You may like the idea of sharing your views on social media, but keep in mind whatever you write on social media will live on “forever”.

Take Away Point

You can reduce your stress level. For your mental and physical health, make time in your day for face-to-face socialization with others. Your mind, body and soul will thank you!

If the information in this blog has been interesting to you, you may be interested in checking out my book on improving your stress management: Crush Your Stress: 302 Coping Skills for Managing Your Stress. It contains ideas on how you can manage your stress in any situation.

With warmest regards,

Thank you so much for reading this blog. If you enjoyed the content, please check out other blogs at:
https://relationshipsrelearned.com/my-blog/
https://rvingnomads.com/blog/

In addition to blogs and articles, I have written a series of self-help books. To view these books, please go to my Amazon Authors Page or go to the My Self-Help Books tab at the top of this page.

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Kathryn Maietta, MSW, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker / Author and Blogger

I am a licensed clinical social worker in Maine and in Texas. The focus of my practice has been working individually with adult men and women and working with couples. I received my BSW from Baylor University and my MSW from Boston University. Since 2020 I have published a series of self-help books and written a bi-weekly mental health blog.

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Anger Management Domestic Abuse/Violence Relationships Stress and Anxiety Communication Resilience