Undivided attention

Someone else’s focus and time
The most powerful physiological evidence that matters.

https://dictionary.apa.org/active-listening
https://psychcentral.com/lib/become-a-better-listener-active-listening
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-it-together/202006/active-listening-skills

Compassion

Sympathetic consciousness of a person’s distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

http://leifvind.dk/lv_pdf/IntroducingCompassionFocusedTherapy.pdf

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/6E1FB22CFABD2B96AC7DE0B473774F9F/S0033291714002141a.pdf/psychotherapeutic_benefits_of_compassionfocused_therapy_an_early_systematic_review.pdf

https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/compassion-focused-therapy

Encouragement

Illuminating a person’s goals and inspiring that person to achieve those goals.

https://www.apa.org/education-career/ce/psychology-encouragement.pdf

Successful self-management of chronic illness.

Receiving emotional support—over and above instrumental support—has been linked to improved patient adherence to medical treatment and to successful self-management of chronic illness.

(DiMatteo, 2004; Gallant, 2003; Thompson, Littles, Jacob, & Coker, 2006)

Reduction in mortality and morbidity

 Receiving emotional support has also been associated with reduced mortality and morbidity. 

(Holt-Lundstad et al., 2015; Lyyra & Heikkinen, 2006; Uchino, Cacioppo, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 1996)

Strengthening of the immune system

This appears to be driven both by a direct impact of receiving support on immune response, as well as by a link between receiving emotional support and engaging in better coping and positive health behaviors.

(Loucks et al., 2006; Cacioppo, 2008; Reblin & Uchino, 2009; Uchino, 2006)