7 Dimensions of Wellness: Social Wellness

Social Wellness

This September OSU Extension is offering a Connection Café series on the Dimensions of Wellness. To learn about different dimensions of wellness, register for the series at go.osu.edu/ConnecttoWellness, follow the OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Facebook Page, and watch for more blogs to be published on this site this month.

How we communicate and develop relationships with other people is considered social wellness. Working to build better relationships with the people around you helps to build a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, with the emergence of Covid-19, many people have noticed unfulfillment in this area.

With the fluctuations and uncertainties surrounding Covid-19, people have had to become creative to meet their social wellness needs. Social wellness emphasizes the importance of interdependence. Some of the ways that we can stay connected to people, even when physically apart, include:

• Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• Video chat and conferencing platforms such as Facetime, Zoom, Google Meets, and Skype.
• Streaming services like Netflix that allow you to watch media content in sync with other people, so you can experience viewing with another person in a different location.
• Virtual games, not just video games, but platforms like Quizup or Scattegories.

Adapting to meet social needs during Covid is not the only change that has happened during the pandemic. Experiences of trauma and grief may also be effecting your socialization. Besides acknowledging and dealing with feelings of loss and grief, one must also realize how loss has altered daily routines and aspects of social wellness. Sometimes this means seeking help adjusting to grief.

What we consider to be our culture is also addressed when socializing with others. As younger generations in America grow and interact with other people, culture is changing, as well as an increased need to understand and respect other people.

An easy exercise to connect with people of similar and different cultures is to look at your personal values. Identify ten of the most important values you hold and refer to them when you make new and work on existing relationships.