Presence as a Social Determinant of Health?

What if health is influenced not only by what we do for one another, but by the simple fact that we are present with one another?

Public health research has shown that social isolation, loneliness, social support, and social capital are closely linked to health. Yet I wonder whether another dimension remains underexplored: presence itself.

Marina Abramović’s The Artist Is Present suggested that silent presence can have a powerful emotional effect. There was no conversation, no physical contact, and no practical support. Yet many participants seemed deeply moved.

I have noticed something similar in home-based medical care. Sometimes, for older adults living alone, the most meaningful part of a visit is not a prescription or a test. It is the fact that someone came, sat with them, and acknowledged their existence.

This raises a question for social prescribing. We often assume that it works by increasing participation and activity. But perhaps one therapeutic mechanism is more basic: creating moments in which people feel seen, accompanied, and present with others.

Presence may overlap with social support, belonging, recognition, or relational welfare. But it may also deserve attention as a distinct dimension of social connection.

Can presence itself influence health outcomes?

As both an artist and a physician, this is a question I want to keep exploring.