Social interaction that people consider to be positive differs greatly from individual to individual. Interactions I have with friends or family that make me feel happy may be something that another person would find totally boring. Interactions that may create stress for me could be really stimulating to someone else.
I may find an article about economics totally boring while someone else will read it, think about it, and be totally engaged by the process of reading and thinking about that article. One thing, however, is true in all situations: both positive social engagement and mental stimulation have a very similar impact on the body and the brain: they feed both the person’s body (reduction of stress and/or a feeling of well-being) and brain (healthy growth of brain structures).
We are social animals
It’s difficult to define positive social interaction. To quote the great 60’s-70’s band, Sly and the Family Stone, “different strokes for different folks.” However, the effects on one’s body and brain from positive social action are generalizable. In Strong Brains, Sharp Minds, positive social interaction is described as a basic human need. We are social animals: during the course of our lives we learn cooperation, we develop behavior patterns that enable us to get along with others, to teach and learn from one another, we learn to connect with groups of people. This positive interaction promotes the healthy growth of our brains. This process continues over time, and hopefully, we become more socially “able” as we mature. That’s the science anyway.
On the flip side, negative social interaction has the opposite effect on our brains and bodies. Negative social interaction can take the form of verbal and physical abuse, bad enough for folks of all ages, but especially harmful to children and older adults, as neither age group is generally able to stop the abuser and could be unable to get help.
Loneliness is a magnet for dementia
Negative social interaction can cause an older adult to withdraw, become socially isolated and likely be lonely. Loneliness has been shown to accelerate the onset of dementia and/or Alzheimer’s. Whatever the form of negative social interaction, one result is increased stress which impacts the body (ongoing stress, for example, can cause or exacerbate high blood pressure, interfere with sleep, and impact digestion). It also has the potential for a double whammy-a person could react to negative social interaction by isolating themselves, then becomes lonely, and loneliness is a magnet for dementia.
I have a lot of opportunities for positive social interaction. First off, I have my family comprised of stepdaughters, grandchildren and my wife. I have a Sunday football crew – we’re all New York Giant fans who have a lot in common besides football, and we gather on Sundays during football season, suffer together (the Giants are not very good), and hang out. My wife and I see other friends from time to time, and I keep in touch by phone and text. I don’t do social media as it doesn’t appeal to me. However, social media can be very valuable to help folks who are geographically isolated and/or isolated due to their physical condition or living situation.
What works for me may not work for everyone
My experience is not a model for positive social interaction. It works really well for me, but as I mentioned, it may not work for anyone else. While brain science has clearly delineated the effects of positive social interaction, the form of that interaction is defined by each of us. I know a couple of people who aren’t content if they aren’t involved in a political discussion. Some people, and I really don’t understand this, really need to argue. I don’t get it, but that’s their version of positive interaction. Whatever floats your boat, I guess. In any event, social interaction is a key component of brain health, especially for older adults.
Whenever I have an argument with my wife (it doesn’t happen often, but it does happen), I get an adrenaline burst and I feel stressed. This is the essence of negative social interaction and an example of why it has a negative impact on brain and body well-being. The ongoing stress of a bad social situation has a negative impact on an older adult’s brain and body. During my career as a union staff rep, I spent a significant amount of time is situations that could be defined as negative social interactions. This involved confrontations with supervisors and managers in a variety of settings, including negotiations, grievance meetings and disagreements over policies and their interpretations. To be clear, there were a lot of positive dealings with bosses and their representatives, but the confrontations and disagreements in meetings often left me angry, frustrated and stressed-not good for the aging body and brain. (note that as I gained experience as a rep I was able to work smarter and avoid some of the confrontations I had when I was a newbie). Recently, my next-door neighbor approached me in a very arrogant and insulting way to complain about some dead plants that were up against her “beautiful” fence (not even pretty) that I hadn’t yet removed. I confess I got furious and it took me several hours to calm down.
Nowadays, I try to avoid confrontations and disagreeable social interactions. I don’t provoke people I know to disagree with my political and world view, as a matter of fact, I tend to avoid people with whom I know I will disagree. This, I guess, is because as I’ve aged and summed up my life experiences, I’ve become less open to views that contradict mine. This is on me, but it’s the truth and in the end, it’s just as well I do what I do as it keeps my stress levels lower (and I can get stressed enough just reading a newspaper).
In the end, as I age, I seek out the opportunities for positive social interaction and try to avoid the negative. Unfortunately, many older adults don’t have that luxury, and I really don’t know how folks can avoid negative situations if they’re social isolates, dependent upon others who may or may not have their best interests in mind.
– Edward from McMinnville, Oregon, a FAR customer who is finding purpose in this new stage of his life.
Edward
Edward writes for FAR and is also a customer. He is 73-year-old, born and raised in and around New York City. After college and a little graduate school, he took Horace Greeley’s advice and went west. Edward lived in several cities throughout California and currently resides in Oregon. He practiced law for a few years as part of a law collective doing what they called “people’s law,” but spent most of his career working as an internal organizer for the unions.
When Edward’s career ended with the unions, he was determined to become an advocate for older adults. He enrolled at Portland Community College studying Gerontology. He learned a lot about aging and how it applied to his own life experiences and my own aging process. Much of Edward’s writing is related to what he learned in his Gerontology studies.
* The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the Finance of America Reverse (LLC).
This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only, and should not be construed as financial or tax advice. For more information about whether a reverse mortgage may be right for you, you should consult an independent financial advisor. For tax advice, please consult a tax professional.
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