Wisconsin Autism Empowerment

3 Benefits to Joining a Social Group

Brandon Fredricks July 16, 2023

It is in the nature of humans to be social. We seek to form relationships, gain a sense of belonging, and find support. We can foster these types of connections through a social group. These groups allow us to explore our hobbies, network with professionals, and contribute positively to our well-being. The benefits are numerous, but let us start with 3.

Joining a social group helps prevent social isolation.

After a lively party or a long work day, being alone can be a way to relax and revitalize. But too much isolation can harm your overall well-being. Unwanted and unhealthy amounts of solitude are called social isolation.

Social isolation can negatively impact your health. The American Psychological Association posted an article that links social isolation to depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function, impaired immunity, and early mortality. The risks of lengthy solitude are in magnitude similar to obesity and smoking.

Alongside physical health, social isolation can hurt your mental health as well. Those affected tend to have low self-esteem and develop unhealthy habits to cope. Loneliness also increases a person’s risk of dementia by 40%.

Autistic people have difficulty finding a place to exist socially within our world. Many autistic people become socially isolated and lonely. The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders published an article about the social participation of young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. It claims that social participation indicates life quality and overall function. Among their peers with other emotional/behavioral or learning disabilities, young adults with ASD were significantly more likely to be socially isolated. Approximately one-half to two-thirds of the ASD population experience social isolation.

Wisconsin Autism Empowerment recognizes the struggle of socializing for those on the autism spectrum. We have created a space to meet new people and fill our social needs.

Join a social group to network.

Networking can enhance both personal and professional growth. It provides an opportunity to showcase your skills to boost confidence. It gives us access to new collaborations, partnerships, and opportunities that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. By collaborating with like-minded people, you can learn, gain insight into new perspectives, and share your conclusions that may help others.

Networking is not always about a career or profession. It can also be beneficial to the hobbyist. If you need help with a project or thinking of a solution to a problem, asking someone with similar interests could help you achieve your goal.

Social groups are also great for mentorship. You can search for information about a topic using informational resources, but you cannot ask it questions specific to your needs. An example of this would be university courses. Find someone with a degree in your chosen major from the institution you will be attending and ask about instructors and courses. Another example could be navigating programs and resources intended to help people. These programs are not often advertised and can be challenging to navigate. Finding an individual that can help with the application process or connecting you with someone who can help can be beneficial and mitigate the stress caused by the process.

Social groups contribute to a positive identity.

We have already concluded that people with more social interaction live longer, healthier lives. But what are the details of the impact that being social has? Using a peer-reviewed research article from Plos One, let us examine that.

First, being part of a social group builds self-esteem. It builds self-esteem because having others around you that share a social identity validates your thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

Second, identifying with a group provides a “ground to stand upon.” This figurative ground gives us a sense of “existential security.” These conditions enhance a person’s self-worth and personal self-esteem.

Third, the collective self-esteem. When we self-evaluate, we compare ourselves to others. When you have a solid connection to a group, collective self-esteem reflects in how you view yourself.

The study also notes that the more social groups you are a part of directly correlate to higher levels of self-esteem. This fact is not surprising, as one group cannot wholly validate the entirety of an individual’s identity.

In Conclusion

We rarely get invited to join groups as autistic adults. Forming connections with others is challenging and exhausting. This is why so many of us are socially isolated. The lack of acceptance by the general public prevents us from having a high sense of self-worth.

Wisconsin Autism Empowerment recognizes the struggles of autistic adults to “fit in” to society. We created the space so we can stop apologizing for, and embrace, our social identity. We support adults with autism from all backgrounds. We have members that are LGBTQ+, high school to college-educated and have diverse cultural backgrounds. We want to hear about your interests and opinions and have a casual conversation, make connections, and find a new friend.