Search
They found the switch that makes the body attack cancer-Click HereThis common liver supplement could boost cancer treatment success-Click HereThis European treatment for joint pain just passed a major scientific test-Click HereTiny brain nanotubes found by Johns Hopkins may spread Alzheimer’s-Click HereExercise might be the key to a younger, sharper immune system-Click HereScientists grow mini human livers that predict toxic drug reactions-Click HereThis new blood test can catch cancer 10 years early-Click HereYour brain’s power supply may hold the key to mental illness-Click HereNew research reveals how ADHD sparks extraordinary creativity-Click HereThis experimental “super vaccine” stopped cancer cold in the lab-Click HereSports concussions increase injury risk-Click HereUncovering a cellular process that leads to inflammation-Click HereNew study links contraceptive pills and depression-Click HereA short snout predisposes dogs to sleep apnea-Click HereBuilding a new vaccine arsenal to eradicate polio-Click HereThe Viking disease can be due to gene variants inherited from Neanderthals-Click HereQatar Omicron-wave study shows slow decline of natural immunity, rapid decline of vaccine immunity-Click HereMore than a quarter of people with asthma still over-using rescue inhalers, putting them at increased risk of severe attacks-Click hereProgress on early detection of Alzheimer’s disease-Click HereDried samples of saliva and fingertip blood are useful in monitoring responses to coronavirus vaccines-Click HereDietary fiber in the gut may help with skin allergies-Click HereResearchers discover mechanism linking mutations in the ‘dark matter’ of the genome to cancer-Click HereDespite dire warnings, monarch butterfly numbers are solid-Click HereImmunotherapy may get a boost-Click HereArtificial intelligence reveals a never-before described 3D structure in rotavirus spike protein-Click HereRecurring brain tumors shaped by genetic evolution and microenvironment-Click HereCompound shows promise for minimizing erratic movements in Parkinson’s patients-Click HereConsuming fruit and vegetables and exercising can make you happier-Click HereCOVID-19 slows birth rate in US, Europe-Click HereLink between ADHD and dementia across generations-Click HerePreventing the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury-Click HereStudy details robust T-cell response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines — a more durable source of protection-Click HereArtificial color-changing material that mimics chameleon skin can detect seafood freshness-Click HereNeural implant monitors multiple brain areas at once, provides new neuroscience insights-Click HereB cell activating factor possible key to hemophilia immune tolerance-Click HereMasks not enough to stop COVID-19’s spread without distancing, study finds-Click HereAI can detect COVID-19 in the lungs like a virtual physician, new study shows-Click HerePhase 1 human trials suggest breast cancer drug is safe, effective-Click HereRe-engineered enzyme could help reverse damage from spinal cord injury and stroke-Click HereWeight between young adulthood and midlife linked to early mortality-Click HereIncreased fertility for women with Neanderthal gene, study suggests-Click HereCoronavirus testing kits to be developed using RNA imaging technology-Click HereFacial expressions don’t tell the whole story of emotion-Click HereAcid reflux drug is a surprising candidate to curb preterm birth-Click HereTreating Gulf War Illness With FDA-Approved Antiviral Drugs-Click HereHeart patch could limit muscle damage in heart attack aftermath-Click HereA nap a day keeps high blood pressure at bay-Click HereIn small groups, people follow high-performing leaders-Click HereTick tock: Commitment readiness predicts relationship success-Click HereA comprehensive ‘parts list’ of the brain built from its components, the cells-Click HereResearchers confine mature cells to turn them into stem cells-Click HereNew tissue-imaging technology could enable real-time diagnostics, map cancer progression-Click HereEverything big data claims to know about you could be wrong-Click HerePsychedelic drugs promote neural plasticity in rats and flies-Click HereEducation linked to higher risk of short-sightedness-Click HereNew 3D printer can create complex biological tissues-Click HereThe creative brain is wired differently-Click HereWomen survive crises better than men-Click HerePrecise DNA editing made easy: New enzyme to rewrite the genome-Click HereFirst Time-Lapse Footage of Cell Activity During Limb RegenerationStudy Suggests Approach to Waking Patients After Surgery
Saturday, Oct 18, 2025 Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.

Are Weak Ties Better Than No Ties?

0
By on Relationships Smart Living

Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — A former surgeon general of the U.S. once wrote “Loneliness and weak social connections are associated with a reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” While that may seem extreme, in a survey from last year, 30 percent of adults in the U.S. said they feel lonely at least once a week, and 10 percent feel lonely every day. The survey defined loneliness as not having a sense of belonging, so what can people do to get that sense back? Weak Ties

Your spouse, kids, parents, siblings, and your BFF, you can probably name your close ties, but what about your weak ties?

Weak ties are the people you see at your local coffee shop, gym, work, even neighbors you meet when walking your dog.

Experts say that people who interacted with more weak ties had a greater sense of well-being and belonging. Edliz Vazquez discovered this when she moved to a new city.

“I didn’t really have a community and so my weak ties actually led to close ties,” said Edliz Vazquez, LPC, LMHC, NCC, National Certified Counselor.

Weak ties have their strength not only in belonging and overall happiness, they also can expose you to new ideas that you wouldn’t learn otherwise.

“They can also lead to social cohesion, right? If you are kind of in an echo chamber of the same kind of people, the same kind of thought processes, weak ties help you branch out of those echo chambers,” explained Vazquez.

So next time you’re next to someone you see often, but don’t know, say hi. That short exchange can have a bigger impact than you realize.

The theory of “the strength of weak ties” was first published in 1973 in terms of employment opportunities, and a 2022 MIT study found that more weak ties led to more job mobility in the tech industry.

Contributors to this news report include: Marcy Wilder, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.

To receive a free weekly email on Smart Living from Ivanhoe, sign up at:  http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk 

Sources:

https://ourworldindata.org/social-connections-and-loneliness

https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/News-Releases/New-APA-Poll-One-in-Three-Americans-Feels-Lonely-E

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/health/seniors-acquaintances-happiness.html?smid=url-share

https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2022/09/real-strength-weak-ties

https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2022/09/real-strength-weak-ties

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abl4476

Related Stories