TED Health Why social health is key to happiness and longevity | Kasley Killam
Aug 5, 2025
Kasley Killam, a social scientist dedicated to exploring human connection and well-being, discusses the vital role of social health in happiness and longevity. She explains how a sense of belonging can significantly improve overall health, especially in combating loneliness. With engaging personal anecdotes, she introduces the 5-3 guideline to foster meaningful relationships and emphasizes the need to prioritize social connections in our lives. Killam advocates for integrating social health into community initiatives, highlighting its crucial impact on life satisfaction.
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Maya's Health Journey
- Kasley Killam shared Maya's story, who faced big life changes and focused only on physical and mental health.
- Despite this, Maya felt unfocused and struggled until she realized social health was missing.
Social Health's Impact on Longevity
- Social health, focusing on relationships, is as crucial as physical and mental health.
- Lack of social connection weakens immunity and increases risks of many diseases and early death.
The 5-3 Social Health Guideline
- Aim to interact with five different people weekly to enrich your social connections.
- Strengthen at least three close relationships and spend one hour daily on meaningful connection.