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by Alexis Blue Chris Richards photos

Making Connections in a Digital Age

Poor social skills may be harmful to mental and physical health

hose who struggle in social situations to link social skills to physical, not just The study is based on a survey of a
Tmay be at greater risk for mental and mental, health. nationally representative sample of 775
physical health problems, according to a “We’ve known for a long time that people, age 18 to 91, who were asked to
new study from the University of Arizona. social skills are associated with mental respond online to questions designed to
That’s because people with poor social health problems like depression and measure social skills, stress, loneliness, and
skills tend to experience more stress and anxiety,” Segrin says. “But we’ve not mental and physical health.
loneliness, both of which can negatively known definitively that social skills were Social skills refers to the communication
impact health, says study author Chris also predictive of poorer physical health. skills that allow people to interact effectively
Segrin, who has studied social skills for 31 Two variables — loneliness and stress and appropriately with others. Segrin
years and is head of the UA Department of — appear to be the glue that binds poor focused on four specific indicators of social
Communication. social skills to health. People with poor skills: the ability to provide emotional
The study, published in the journal social skills have high levels of stress and support to others; self-disclosure, or the
Health Communication, is among the first loneliness in their lives.” ability to share personal information with

30 ARIZONA ALUMNI MAGAZINE