Health Psychology, Spring 2024
Intervention to Reduce Social Isolation
use the attached file to write about the girl Maya described in the entries
Learning objectives:
Identifying barriers to social connection
-Analyze personal and societal barriers that may contribute to this person’s isolation.
Communication Skills
-Practice active listening, empathy, and non-verbal communication
Self-reflection
-Develop strategies for helping this other person build social connections
-Examine how providing support made you feel (pros and cons)
-Examine your satisfaction with your own current social connections
The physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Additionally, lacking social connection increases risk of premature death (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023).
For this writing assignment, begin by describing the person with whom you chose to initiate or increase your social interaction. The focus of your paper should not be a parent, spouse or other family member with whom you regularly interact. Challenge yourself to reach out to someone- this may mean going out of your “comfort zone.”
Questions to address:
-Age, sex, ethnicity, employment status, their relationship status
-In what context do you know this person, or did you meet this person?
-Does the person live alone? Is this person living and/or working near family and friends? What is the size of this person’s social network of close relationships? What is the size of this person’s social network of acquaintances? (You may have to give your best estimate – it would be awkward to ask directly).
– How did you determine that this person was isolated and/or lonely?
-How often had you interacted with this person in the recent past (last year or so)?
-How often did you interact with this person during this semester? Describe the nature of these interactions and discuss whether you think it made a difference for the person and for you.
Integrate at least three APA references from Brannon et al. (2019). Most references likely will be in chapter 5 of the text (sections on emotion- and problem-focused coping and social support). However, you may find relevant references in other chapters. For example, perhaps you learn that this person is not adhering to their medical regimen. See references about the role of social support in adherence to various regimens
