Chapter 6 focuses on policy priorities centered around the themes of better integration of social and medical services, improving community assets, and health care workforce improvements that include training in identifying and responding to relational needs.

Chapter 2 describes four types of relational features: social support, social integration, social capital, and social norms, collectively referred to as the “four socials.” The ways in which each of these relational factors impact health can be understood as operating through psychological, behavioral, and biological pathways. This chapter presents the definitional distinctions between the four socials and describes the scientific evidence for their pathways.

Chapter 5 examines how a relational approach addresses avenues for prevention and sustainable solutions with a focus on four areas of emphasis. The chapter describes strategies and examples of successful programs that effectively integrate relational health themes in their treatment approaches with examples derived from interviews with patients and providers.

Chapter 7 concludes with the broad potential for relational health to improve health and wellbeing. It considers challenges and lessons from COVID-19 and what we have learned to improve population health in the future. Priorities of prevention, mitigation, and provision of care are emphasized along with reflections on obstacles to change.

Chapter 4 examines the historical trends of how the three health issues of obesity, opioid use disorder, and depression in older adults have increased in prevalence over the last several decades. The chapter describes the current guidelines and practices for how health care is delivered for these patient populations and draws from perspectives and stories from health care settings.

The relational health perspective offers a different lens through which to view how our health is shaped and what the most productive avenues are for achieving long-term positive health outcomes. This book draws on empirical research into how social relationships affect health outcomes, with a focus on three specific health problems –obesity, opioid use disorder, and depression in older adults – and incorporates examples of the untapped potential of community resources, social networks, and varied partnerships.

Chapter 3 focuses specifically on research findings for how obesity, opioid use disorder, and depression in older adults are impacted and shaped by the four socials. The wide range of research contexts and methods are highlighted to provide a clear understanding of the scope of work in these areas.