Motivations for Being a Good Neighbor: For the Health of It (1 in a series of 4)

 


Where neighbors share a sense of community, residents are more likely to feel safe and secure and have a lower fear of crime than those without a sense of community. People living in connected neighborhoods feel healthier and are happier about their lives and are more likely to vote and help others by volunteering. 

For these reasons and many more, being a good neighbor and connecting with others on your block improves the neighborhood and helps you personally. 


Neighborliness is not a special talent - it is a decision! Anyone can be a good neighbor —it just takes a little initiative, but the rewards make it worthwhile. Neighborhoods with a higher sense of community enjoy a higher quality of life. 


So please do it for yourself and your family.


Motivation for action can vary widely among humans. But there seem to be four major motivators for individuals to begin reaching and loving their neighbors.

For the Health of it

Based on data in “Susan Pinker's book “The Village Effect,” we discover that being disconnected as neighbors hurts our health.

·  Humans need face-to-face contact. Those surrounded by a tight-knit group of friends who regularly gather live an average of 15 years longer than loners.

·  Quality face-to-face contact fortifies our immune system, calibrates hormones and increases our survival of heart attacks, strokes, AIDS and cancer.

·  Social connection is often linked to mental health, but its effect on physical health is even more astounding.

·  Of 148 studies (308,849 participants) in 2010, individuals with stronger social relationships had a 50% increased likelihood of survival.

·  In 2011, people who perceived their neighbors as trustworthy were more likely to report higher rates of health and well-being than those who said they did not know or trust their neighbors according to a study at the University of Missouri.

·  A more recent 2014 study by the University of Michigan found that close community ties reduced heart attack risk for people over 50.

·  The opposite of neighboring results in loneliness and being lonely has the same health impact on your body as smoking a packet of cigarettes every day says Pinkler.


MORE INFORMATION

Does this article make you interested in taking the Engaged Neighbor pledge? Five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge online at http://engagedneighbor.com.

Contact the blog author, David L. Burton at dburton541@yahoo.com.

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