Social networks and support can be defined as "contact with, and support from, family and friends".[1]
Social networks provide social, emotional and financial support to individuals while connecting them to other groups, people, and opportunities.[2]
Close Connections with Family and Friends |
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Relationships built on strong emotional ties with family and friends provide emotional support, as well as a comfortable place to share stories, opinions, and feelings.[3] Being connected to a social network can also help people overcome mental health struggles.[4] Social support networks may also protect people against premature death, other causes of mortality and disease, and help people cope with stress.[2,5] Social connections can affect several health behaviors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and snacking habits.[6,7] Although there are a few types of social networks with negative consequences (such as criminal gangs), most social networks have positive impacts on individuals and their communities.[7] In 2020, less than half of all Canadians age 15 years and older had a close connection with at least five family members or friends.[8]
There are no local measures for close connections with family members and friends available at this time. |
References
[1] Harper, R., & Kelly, M. (2003). Measuring social capital in the United Kingdom. Office for National Statistics as cited in: Scott, K. (2010). Community vitality: A report of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing. https://uwaterloo.ca/canadian-index-wellbeing/sites/ca.canadian-index-wellbeing/files/uploads/files/CommunityVitality_DomainReport.sflb_.pdf
[2] Public Health Agency of Canada. (2013). What makes Canadians healthy or unhealthy? https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health/what-makes-canadians-healthy-unhealthy.html
[3] Sinha, M. (2014). Spotlight on Canadians: Results from the General Social Survey. Canadians' connections with family and friends. Statistics Canada: Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-652-x/89-652-x2014006-eng.pdf
[4] Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2015). Informing the future: Mental health indicators for Canada. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Informing-the-Future-Mental-Health-Indicators-for-Canada.pdf
[5] Scott, K. (2010). Community vitality: A report of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing. https://uwaterloo.ca/canadian-index-wellbeing/sites/ca.canadian-index-wellbeing/files/uploads/files/CommunityVitality_DomainReport.sflb_.pdf
[6] Christakis, N. A., & Fowler, J. H. (2008). The collective dynamics of smoking in a large social network profile. The New England Journal of Medicine, 358, 2249-2258.
[7] Pachucki, M. A., Jacques, P. F., & Christakis, N. A. (2011). Social network concordance in food choice among spouses, friends, and siblings. American Journal of Public Health, 101 (11), 2170-2177.
[8] Statistics Canada. (2023). Table 43-10-0063-01 Size and composition of personal networks (local, close relatives, close friends, acquaintances), by visible minority and selected characteristics. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=4310006301