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To highlight the significant impact of social relationships on health and illness and suggest implications of these effects for health promotion efforts among older adults.

Published studies on social relationships and health (or health behaviors) for the period 1970–1998 were identified through MEDLINE by using the key words social relationships, social support, and health, as well as review of health-related journals such as the American Journal of Epidemiology, Annals of Epidemiology, American Journal of Public Health, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Social Science and Medicine, and the Journals of Gerontology.

Major published original research was considered. Where published research was too extensive for full discussion of all studies, preference was given to studies focusing on older adults and those using stronger methodology (i.e., representative samples …