We console one another after misfortune, hug loved ones for re-assurance, and celebrate together in times of happiness. The importance of our social connections cannot be overstated. We need contact with others throughout all stages of life. These connections form safety nets that preserve mental health and feelings of belonging. Our emotions spread not only to each other but to friends of friends, and even beyond to the furthest reaches of our social network.
When we change our behavior as a result of interactions with others, this is an example of social contagion. This theory says our entire social network influences our actions, including family, friends, peers, and co-workers. Social connections appear to be a strong determinant of a person’s body size, weight, sleep habits, level of happiness, diet, and more. Our habits are highly susceptible to the habits of those around us, even if we are unaware of it.
Social influences are strong, and they can override our willpower. This is evident to anyone who has brought donuts into work, because many of those coworkers who reached for a donuts awoke with any plan to do so. This brings up the potential for social connections to have negative influences on our ability to stick with particular healthy habits, but the reverse is also true.
Research has identified many detriments of social contagion, such as likelihood to begin smoking based on who we interact with, but other studies highlight the positives. For example, when someone starts a new exercise program and shares this to their social media contacts or coworkers, this healthy behavior is often picked up by others. The new exerciser receives encouragement from their network, and the network benefits from adopting the same healthy habit. This suggests that we can leverage social connections to help spread positive behavior change.
Our social connections at work enhance the employee experience. As we learn more about our colleagues, we develop greater rapport and trust. This benefits communication and can results in higher performing teams. But how can we help employees have fewer donuts and cigarettes in favor of healthier habits? The answer is through wellness programming.
Offering wellness programs improves the overall culture of health and wellbeing across the organization while also supporting employee performance. These programs vary, but the best ones are far more than just healthy food options or walking meetings. Workplace wellness programs facilitate relationship building in ways that support employee morale. They help participants learn from their peers, regardless of which department or specific task an employee oversees. This improves communication across departments and aids collaboration.
Many wellness programs are now offering 0pportunities for peer-to-peer support, which gives participants tangible evidence that their team supports their efforts. This can benefit work friendships, which are a helpful factor that predicts organizational success. In fact, having a friend at work has been shown to enhance employee satisfaction by 50%! Plus, employees with stronger social networks have an increased sense of wellbeing, a more positive mood, and are healthier and more productive in the workplace.
Focusing on healthy habits using a wellness program creates buzz around a common positive goal. This sets the stage for employees to get to know other health-motivated coworkers throughout the organization.
Want to learn more about the social connections supported by Treo? Connect with us!
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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