Social relations and health: understanding their interplay in an adverse context

This dissertation investigates the impact of social relations on health in the context of induced earthquakes in Groningen. The findings from the 'Gronings Perspectief' project revealed that earthquake damage led to a reduced feeling of safety, health problems, and a decline in trust in the government. Although social relationships are often seen as a buffer against health issues during acute crises, this research shows that these relationships do not necessarily buffer against long-term health deterioration, as seen in the context of Groningen.The dissertation focuses on three key concepts of social relations: social capital, social support, and social identity. The results indicate that these concepts are difficult to empirically distinguish from one another and that they often overlap. The influence of social relationships on health appears to depend on the specific nature of those relationships, such as the support from family members, friends, or neighbors.Longitudinal research showed that people with stronger social relationships generally have better health on average, but these relationships do not directly affect changes in health over time. This suggests that while social relationships are associated with better overall health, they do not buffer against negative health outcomes in prolonged stressful situations, such as the situation in Groningen.The dissertation suggests future research better conceptualises and measures social relationships and employs longitudinal methods to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of the relationships between social relations and health.

Dissertation: https://hdl.handle.net/11370/1662dae7-f976-405a-ae68-ccaaf2b591ee