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Social cure, what social cure? The propensity to underestimate the importance of social factors for health

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  • Haslam, S. Alexander
  • McMahon, Charlotte
  • Cruwys, Tegan
  • Haslam, Catherine
  • Jetten, Jolanda
  • Steffens, Niklas K.

Abstract

Recent meta-analytic research indicates that social support and social integration are highly protective against mortality, and that their importance is comparable to, or exceeds, that of many established behavioural risks such as smoking, high alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and obesity that are the traditional focus of medical research (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). The present study examines perceptions of the contribution of these various factors to life expectancy within the community at large.

Suggested Citation

  • Haslam, S. Alexander & McMahon, Charlotte & Cruwys, Tegan & Haslam, Catherine & Jetten, Jolanda & Steffens, Niklas K., 2018. "Social cure, what social cure? The propensity to underestimate the importance of social factors for health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 14-21.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:198:y:2018:i:c:p:14-21
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.12.020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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