Men’s health to-do: Find a friend
There’s a common checklist of men’s health to-do tasks: healthy diet, regular exercise, cardiac screenings, prostate screenings, colon screenings, annual bloodwork.
Routine components of men’s healthcare are indisputably important, said Kristen Lippencott, manager of well-being solutions for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. But she said they sometimes overshadow other parts of men’s whole-body health and well-being, namely their social and emotional wellness.
“The world of wellness incorporates all aspects of our well-being, from physical health to behavioral health, financial health and social health,” Lippencott said. “An important part of men’s wellness is their ability to connect in positive ways with their friends, loved ones and community. We know that longevity and general health inextricably tie into the quality of life men enjoy.”
Studies of Blue Zones, select communities around the globe with the highest average lifespans, demonstrate that how fulfilling people find their lives often correlates with their quality of life, health and longevity. Cultivating feelings of belonging, purpose and connection help people live not just longer lives, but more satisfying ones. But sometimes for men, this message is neglected.
“Articles targeting women more often emphasize the importance of relationships than articles about men’s health do but having regular activities to do with family and friends, and just having family, friends and community you can engage with, benefits everyone’s health,” Lippencott said. “Isolation can breed loneliness, depression, anxiety and feelings of alienation and worthlessness and can dramatically affect physical health. Because even if it’s just a few trusted relationships, people need other people. Boys and men need that connection, too.”
In fact, a study published in Psychiatry Research that followed more than 2,500 middle-aged men for more than 20 years concluded that loneliness in that cohort is as big a health risk as obesity or smoking. For example, the findings showed that loneliness increased cancer risk by 10%, and that male cancer patients who were unmarried, widowed or divorced were more likely to die from complications of the disease.
Loneliness is not the same thing as solitude, Lippencott said, explaining that loneliness relates to our unmet needs for social interaction, while being alone is not necessarily harmful and, in moderation, solitude has its own benefits.
“Even introverts and people who enjoy spending some time alone need social interaction eventually,” she said. “We’re social creatures who need human connection to thrive.”
Lippencott said men have social needs their whole lives, but they are most likely to become neglected as they age, starting with the busy-ness of middle-age and compounding after retirement. Sometimes age-related ailments can slow men down, but post-career, when they don’t necessarily have regular contact with others, the risks of isolation increase.
“I think finding ways to retire actively can make a huge difference in the quality of life older men enjoy. Activities like traveling, meeting up with friends, singing in the church choir, volunteering in the community—especially for group service projects or events—can influence how good men feel about their daily lives. These things help boost health at any age but have an outsize importance when men have more free hours in the day to fill or an imbalance between work and play. Healthwise, we see a real difference in the lifestyles of more sedentary men and those living more active, engaged lives.”
The American Psychological Association (APA) lists the following health concerns associated with loneliness:
- Dementia/cognitive decline
- Depression
- Heart disease
- Compromised immunity
- Increased inflammation
- Impaired sleep
- Obesity
- Premature death
The APA said social isolation increases the risk of dementia by 40%, heart disease by 30% and premature death by 50%.
Similarly, the American Psychiatric Association conducted a poll that found one in three Americans experiences loneliness weekly. And in 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared loneliness a public health epidemic.
Activities like a fishing trip with a good friend, joining a men’s community group, taking a class or spending time with grandkids enrich men’s lives, Lippencott said.
“These may sound like fun ’extra’ activities, but from a health perspective, they are worth prioritizing. Guys of all ages need to find sustaining ways to fill their lives with meaningful connection to others and find joy in a sense of belonging and purpose. It’s not just more fun, it’s good for men’s overall health.”
Learn more about Arkansas Blue Cross’ whole-body health, wellness and well-being initiatives.