From the Guidelines
To address relatedness need dissatisfaction in patients, particularly those with cancer, it is crucial to focus on building meaningful connections with others through regular social interactions, joining groups with shared interests, and practicing active listening skills, as supported by the most recent and highest quality study 1.
Importance of Social Support
The study highlights the significance of social support, including family, peers, and healthcare providers, in helping patients cope with cancer and overcome feelings of loneliness. It emphasizes the role of peer support programs in establishing and maintaining relationships, achieving age-related developmental tasks, and promoting positive psychosocial growth.
Recommendations for Building Meaningful Connections
To build meaningful connections, patients can:
- Identify specific relationships they want to strengthen and schedule regular time for connection
- Join community organizations, volunteer groups, or classes where they can meet people with similar interests
- Participate in peer support groups, which can be in the form of face-to-face meetings, camp-style formats, or online support groups
- Engage in social networking events involving other patients, survivors, and family members
Benefits of Addressing Relatedness Needs
Addressing relatedness needs is essential for psychological wellbeing, as humans are inherently social beings who require connection. When relatedness needs are satisfied, people experience:
- Greater happiness
- Reduced stress
- Improved mental health
- Improved quality of life
Potential Consequences of Unmet Relatedness Needs
Persistent feelings of disconnection can lead to:
- Loneliness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Reduced quality of life
Healthcare Provider Role
Healthcare providers play a critical role in addressing relatedness needs by:
- Providing opportunities for patients to meet other patients and survivors
- Facilitating peer support groups and social networking events
- Encouraging patients to participate in community organizations and volunteer groups
- Offering counseling and emotional support to patients and their families, as recommended by 1 and 1.
From the Research
Implications of Unmet Relatedness Needs
The implications of unmet relatedness needs in patients with dissatisfaction can be understood through various studies that have explored the concept of relatedness and its effects on individuals.
- Unmet relatedness needs can lead to decreased motivation, negative affect, and poor motor learning in adolescents, as found in a study that tested the effects of social relatedness on task learning 2.
- Relatedness need dissatisfaction can also predict the presence of dark personalities, which is mediated by prevention focus, and this effect is stronger when depression levels are lower 3.
- Furthermore, unmet relatedness needs can lead to increased Facebook usage as a coping strategy, whereas connection results from greater usage, as shown in a study that examined the effects of Facebook use on relatedness need-satisfaction 4.
- The concept of relatedness is closely tied to the idea that individuals who have experienced more relatedness in their lives tend to value additional or new experiences of relatedness, as found in a study that explored the incremental value of new relatedness experiences 5.
- Additionally, satisfying the need for social connectedness can have both positive and negative effects on social goal striving, depending on the pathway and orientation, as proposed in a dual-pathway model 6.