Social connection & belonging
Research, reports, and books examining social connection, loneliness, belonging, and the role relationships play in health, wellbeing, and community life.
Social Connection in America™ 2026
RAND and The Connection Institute, 2026
A nationally representative survey measuring how often Americans gather, the barriers they face, and how much they trust and feel a sense of belonging in their neighborhoods.
Read the Report: Social Connection in America
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation
U.S. Surgeon General, 2023
A national advisory examining the health, social, and community consequences of loneliness and social disconnection, along with strategies for strengthening social connection.
Read the Report: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation
Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review
Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Timothy B. Smith, J. Bradley Layton, 2010
A foundational meta-analysis examining the relationship between social relationships and mortality risk. It helped establish social connection as an important factor in health and longevity.
Read the Study: Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review | PLOS Medicine
Loneliness, Lack of Social and Emotional Support, and Mental Health Issues (US 2022)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024
A national public-health report examining loneliness, lack of social and emotional support, and associated mental-health outcomes among U.S. adults.
Read the Report: Loneliness, Lack of Social and Emotional Support, and Mental Health Issues — United States, 2022 | MMWR
Social Connection to Accelerate Social Recovery White Paper
Ending Loneliness Together, 2022
An Australian field report examining loneliness and social connection as public-health and community issues and considering opportunities for a more coordinated response.
Read the Whitepaper: ELT_Whitepaper_July2022-1.pdf
The Art and Science of Connection
Kasley Killam
A research-informed book exploring how social health can be understood, strengthened, and supported through everyday relationships and community life.
Explore the Book: Kasley Killam, MPH | Social Health & Connection Expert