One way to understand the volume of research demonstrating the impact of close personal relationships on health is to use a developmental perspective. This brief discussion reviews the impact of close personal relationships including evidence supporting how health care professionals can focus their efforts to promote health and well-being. The importance of social relationships on health has been increasingly appreciated in recent years, yet most social historians report that we have become less connected to others as technology has become more prevalent in our lives.

[Page 648]Policy implications of these findings are offered at the end of this discussion that it is hoped will provoke action at both the individual and community level.