Which of the following best describes how mental and emotional illnesses can affect an individual's social health?

• A. They always improve social health by increasing empathy and communication skills.
• B. They guarantee that individuals will have more friends and stronger social networks.
• C. They may lead to difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships, resulting in social isolation.
• D. They have no impact on social health and only affect physical well-being.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of social health, which refers to how well an individual interacts and forms relationships with others in their social environment.
2. Recognize that mental and emotional illnesses can influence social health by affecting behaviors, emotions, and communication abilities.
3. Consider that while some individuals might develop greater empathy or communication skills, mental and emotional illnesses often create challenges in social interactions.
4. Analyze how difficulties such as anxiety, depression, or mood disorders can lead to problems in forming or maintaining relationships, potentially causing social isolation.
5. Conclude that the best description is that mental and emotional illnesses may lead to difficulties in social relationships, which can negatively impact social health.