The Link Between Social Connection and Depression Prevention
Updated October 2026
A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found something noteworthy that nobody’s talking about, but probably should be.
Researchers at Mass General Hospital in Boston used sophisticated statistical modeling to examine genetic risk factors as well as modifiable risk factors for depression, including social interaction, media use, sleep patterns, diet, physical activity, and environment. Ultimately, the group identified a set of modifiable factors as potential targets for depression prevention and found that social connection was the strongest protective factor (second was reducing sedentary activities like TV watching).
Maybe not a shocking finding, but an important one. Loneliness is widespread. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory calling loneliness and isolation a public health epidemic. Understanding how best to protect those at risk (which, quite frankly, is all of us) from developing full-blown clinical depression is critical. Depression prevention should be a public health priority.
So what can we do?
According to one of the study authors, prioritize socializing. “Far and away the most prominent of these factors was the frequency of confiding in others, but also visits with family and friends, all of which highlighted the important protective effect of social connection and social cohesion.”
Confiding in trusted others is critical, and it supports other studies linking social engagement and well-being. Efforts to counteract disconnection at both the individual and societal level, whether through “social activity prescriptions” or by reducing the stigma of seeking emotional support, should be central to our depression prevention agenda.
Connection is vital, but I find connection to be “in the eye of the beholder.” It’s our perceived sense of connection or community that matters. It’s also the quality of those connections, not the quantity. You can have a huge social network and still be extremely lonely. Go for depth over breadth. Opt for meaningful, trusted connections that help you feel validated and understood. It’s a very lonely place to be when you have the sense that “nobody gets me.”
When psychologists talk about connection and cohesion, we’re often referring to a sense of belonging: the notion that “I belong here.” I belong to this family, this group, this community. In one leading theory of suicide, “thwarted belongingness,” or a sense of alienation, rejection, or being an outcast, is one of two key factors linked to suicidal thoughts.
When people talk about social connection and cohesion, they’re usually referring to external connections, or connection to others. I believe a strong sense of connection can also be developed within ourselves. So, for people who don’t like to people that much, this is for you. You can achieve the same or similar protective effects by developing a greater sense of connection to yourself. Or to nature. To pets. To a cause. To your values. To your purpose. To your higher power or the “greater good.” Most of the time, those things don’t require other people, but they can be enhanced by the presence of like-minded others.
Bottom line: you don’t have to go it alone, and for your mental health’s sake, you probably shouldn’t.
Let’s stay connected to stay well.
Be & Stay Well,
Dr. Natalie
If you’re struggling right now, please reach out to someone you trust. In the US, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
