Social Networks
Social networks consist of social capital and the balance of positivity and negativity in relationships.
Social capital refers to the resources that are available to us through our social networks. Having a social network that is made up of people in positions of power, such as a well-connected physician or lawyer, allows a person to draw on these relationships to accomplish specific tasks, such as finding a job or dealing with a legal problem. A recent study of adults in the United States found that those who have social networks made up of people with high levels of education and professional training tended to report fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than individuals who had social networks that did not include such people.
Having connected and powerful people in your social network aids in finding resources and attaining crucial information, which can reduce feelings of psychological distress when dealing with stressors and other problems that arise over time. A network of people with higher income and education fosters a sense of greater subjective social status, which refers to the social class that someone feels they belong to. A sense of higher subjective social status, feeling that you belong to the upper or upper-middle class, is linked with fewer symptoms of psychological distress.
When you think about someone in your social network, does that person bring to mind positive or negative experiences? Social psychologists have studied the balance of positive and negative relationships with people in our social networks, and the impact it has on our psychological well-being. A close friend who is helpful and understanding brings mostly positive experiences. In contrast, a relationship with a co-worker who is critical and demanding is likely to lead to negative experiences. We can have ambivalent feelings, a combination of positivity and negativity towards people in our social networks, too. Positive and ambivalent relationships tend to be much more common than negative relationships. However, even a small number of negative relationships can lead to significant increases in psychological distress. This is because negative relationships have a greater impact on mental health than positive relationships.
Decreasing conflict and negative interactions in our social networks is probably the clearest path towards improved psychological well-being.
This suggests that we should alter our social networks to reduce negativity and increase positivity, yet changing the composition of social networks is difficult. Changing your social network involves increasing the strength of weaker social ties that already exist, acquaintances, and starting completely new relationships.
Psychology Today
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