After COVID-19 Pandemic, Making New Friendships Important for Men’s Health
6/20/2023
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Posted by Dr. Gaurav Malhotra and Dr. Sudeep Ross, Fidelis Care Medical Directors
in
Health and Wellness,
Men's Health,
Mental Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people’s lives in many ways, including its impact on our mental health. At the start of the pandemic, social distancing was required to reduce the spread of the disease. That meant many people started to work remotely and only saw their friends using online meeting platforms.
For many businesses, there was no going back. The elimination of work commutes combined with the flexibility of working from home became the new normal.
Many companies found ways to engage with employees remotely through webinars and lunch and learn events. And while these efforts help connect employees, there is a concern that work-based friendships have decreased in the remote environment.
This is most troubling for men, who have been facing a “friendship recession” for the past several years. According to a recent study by the Survey Center on American Life, the percentage of men with at least six close friends decreased by half since 1990, from 55 percent to 27 percent. The study also found 15 percent of men said they had no close friends, up from 3 percent in 1990.
Before the pandemic, the workplace offered a lot of men one of their main social outlets: workplace connections. Now, for remote workers, those lunchroom conversations and office drop-ins have vanished, eliminating another social touchpoint.
Men’s Health Month in June offers us the opportunity to raise awareness for the health risks facing men – and women – when they don’t engage with friends. A University of Texas at Austin study found that “adults who are more socially connected are healthier and live longer than their more isolated peers.”
Men are encouraged to look for ways to connect. Participating in EIGs and other groups at work, joining a book club, volunteering at their kids’ activities, or signing up for an exercise group are good ways to meet other people. During those activities, it’s important to try to make connections with others. By building these friendships, men can find outlets for their feelings and emotions.
Also, it is important to realize that loneliness can lead to depression. If that happens, remember it’s OK to seek help.
Additional Resources:
https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150158/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6142169/