(CNN) – That thing we’ve all been doing by staying home, avoiding large gatherings, and keeping at least six feet away from each other?
The World Health Organization And other health experts would prefer that we stop calling it “social distancing.”
Instead, they opt for the term “physical distancing.”
(Photo by Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images)
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The reason? The term “social distancing” may imply a feeling of disconnection from loved ones. And at a time when being physically isolated from others can affect mental health, the organization wants to emphasize how important it is for people to stay socially connected.
The WHO announced that it would depart from the term “social distancing” at a briefing on March 20. Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the WHO, reiterated that stance at a press conference on Wednesday.
“We have been saying físico physical distancing’ because it is important to stay physically separate but socially connected, “said Van Kerkove, adding that people must take care of their mental health and that of their loved ones during the pandemic.
“There is no confinement of laughter,” he said. “There is no confinement to talking to the family and finding ways to connect.”
Social contact is vital for mental health, experts say
Staying physically away from others is one of the most effective ways at this time to combat the spread of coronavirus. However, doing so goes against people’s desires for connection and physical contact, and could contribute to feelings of anxiety, loneliness, fear and pain that could create another crisis: one of mental health.
Consensual physical contact and in-person interactions release chemicals in the brain and body, including endorphins, serotonin, and oxytocin, which can increase happiness and reduce pain and stress. But a hug or a hand around a shoulder that would otherwise offer comfort in a time of uncertainty and fear is what could endanger people’s physical health.
The absence of physical contact and human connection can have a psychological cost. That is one of the reasons why Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki suggests reformulating “social distancing” as “physical distancing.”
“From the beginning ‘social distancing’ was the wrong term,” Zaki said in a question-and-answer session with the university. “We should think of” physical detachment “at this time to emphasize that we can remain socially connected even when separated.”
That means trying to replicate meetings and interactions in person with technologies like FaceTime and Zoom.
“In fact, I encourage everyone to practice ‘distance socialization.’ Ironically, the same technologies that we often blame for tearing apart our social fabric could be our best chance, now, of holding it together, ”said Zaki.
Other experts say the change could be confusing
Although the WHO and some experts are moving away from the term “social distancing”, the phrase could be difficult to erase. The use of the term is now ingrained in the public consciousness and is also widely used among government agencies and the media.
Furthermore, some experts argue that changing to a different terminology could confuse people at a time when accurate dissemination of information is vital.
“Anything that can further confuse the public is really dangerous,” Lori Peek, a professor of sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and director of the National Risk Center, told The Washington Post. Trust me, I am an academic. I love to talk about language and words, but right now this is a matter of life and death. “
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