In Chapter 4, I synthesize empirical literature linking relationship characteristics with health and illness outcomes to show how relationships can buffer against or, on the contrary, can exacerbate the negative consequences of a chronic disease or a chronic health crisis. I position the complexities of health and illness as interconnected with the broader context of relationships, which co-occur within extensive considerations of social networks and societal-level attributions, particularly as shaped by social and economic conditions. Strong empirical research across many disciplines provides evidence that high-quality relationships and strong social networks are correlated with good physical and mental health. These outcomes are not equally distributed across communities or across populations.