Besides our physical needs, we have several relational needs, such as needs for companionship and affection, relaxation and escape.15 We don’t necessarily have the same needs in all our relationships—you probably value your friends for somewhat different reasons than you value your coworkers, for instance. The bottom line, though, is that we need relationships, and communication is a large part of how we build and keep those relationships.16 Think about how many structures in our lives are designed to promote social interaction. Neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, malls, theaters, and restaurants are all social settings where we interact with people. In addition, the internet offers innumerable ways of connecting with others, and many people have met new friends and romantic partners online.17 Social media platforms can even help people renew friendships that had been lost due to the passage of time or changes in life circumstances.18

Social interaction keeps adults healthy too. Research shows that people without strong social ties, such as close friendships and family relationships, are more likely to suffer from major ailments, including heart disease and high blood pressure, and to die prematurely than people who have close, satisfying relationships.7 They are also more likely to suffer from lesser ailments, such as colds, and they often take longer to recover from illnesses or injuries.8 Communication researchers Chris Segrin and Stacey Passalacqua have even found that loneliness is related to sleep disturbances and stress.9 In the United States, young adults ages 18 to 22 report higher levels of loneliness than any other age group.10 For many, the COVID-19 pandemic severely limited opportunities for social interaction. Particularly during 2020 and 2021, millions were forced to attend work or school online and to avoid large social gatherings to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.11 As a result, feelings of loneliness increased, particularly among young adults.12

Communication keeps us healthy. Human beings are such inherently social beings that when we are denied opportunities for interaction, our mental and physical health can suffer. This is a major reason why solitary confinement is such a harsh punishment. Research has shown that when people are cut off from others for an extended period, their health can quickly deteriorate.2 One study even showed that feeling rejected reduces the rate at which a person’s heart beats.3 Similarly, individuals who feel socially isolated because of poverty, homelessness, mental illness, or physical disabilities can also suffer from a lack of quality interaction with others.4