Cited by 5,370Health disparities and outcomesDeath Anxiety and Social ExclusionAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 104 of the 104 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 43 of the 163 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Loneliness Matters: A Theoretical and Empirical Review of Consequences and Mechanisms

Open access
Hawkley, Louise C., Cacioppo, John T.·2010·Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

As a social species, humans rely on a safe, secure social surround to survive and thrive. Perceptions of social isolation, or loneliness, increase vigilance for threat and heighten feelings of vulnerability while also raising the desire to reconnect. Implicit hypervigilance for social threat alters psychological processes that influence physiological functioning, diminish sleep quality, and increase morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this paper is to review the features and consequences of loneliness within a comprehensive theoretical framework that informs interventions to reduce loneliness. We review physical and mental health consequences of loneliness, mechanisms for its effects, and effectiveness of extant interventions. Features of a loneliness regulatory loop are employed to explain cognitive, behavioral, and physiological consequences of loneliness and to discuss interventions to reduce loneliness. Loneliness is not simply being alone. Interventions to reduce loneliness and its health consequences may need to take into account its attentional, confirmatory, and memorial biases as well as its social and behavioral effects.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s12160-010-9210-8

Cites

104 of 104 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

53 No full text of the sources · 29 Own interpretation · 25 Supported · 9 Not checked yet · 7 Partly supported · 6 Supported so far · 5 Own result · 3 Sources not found · 3 No basis given · 1 Couldn’t confirm · accuracy not yet measured

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 51
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 10
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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Humans are a social species and rely on a safe, secure social surround to survive and thrive.

    “As a social species, humans rely on a safe, secure social surround to survive and thrive.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The ability to regulate one’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior is critical to accomplish personal goals or to comply with social norms.

    “The ability to regulate one’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior is critical to accomplish personal goals or to comply with social norms.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Sleep offers physiological restoration.

    “sleep offers physiological restoration.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Cortisol regulates a wide variety of physiological processes via nuclear hormone receptor-mediated control of gene transcription.

    “Cortisol regulates a wide variety of physiological processes via nuclear hormone receptor-mediated control of gene transcription.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    NF–κB up-regulates inflammation-related genes, and its activity is antagonized by the glucocorticoid receptor.

    “NF–κB is known to up-regulate inflammation-related genes, and its activity is antagonized by the glucocorticoid receptor.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The reproductive success of the human species hinges on offspring surviving to reproductive age.

    “Consider that the reproductive success of the human species hinges on offspring surviving to reproductive age.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The only extant data to address whether successful loneliness interventions produce physiological and physical health benefits comes from the recent study of 235 lonely home-dwelling older adults.

    “The only extant data to address this question comes from a recent study in which 235 lonely home-dwelling older adults (>74 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group.”
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Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Emler N. Gossip, reputation, and adaptation. In: Goodman R, Ben Ze'ev A, eds. Good Gossip. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press; 1994: 34–46.

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Metadata

Authors
Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T.
Affiliations
University of Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
Hawkley, Louise C.
Venue
Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published
2010-07-22
Volume
40
Issue
2
Pages
218-227
ISSN
  • 0742-5554 (ISSN-L)
  • 0883-6612
  • 1532-4796
OpenAlex
W2168289525
Cited by
4,782
References
104
Citations by year
2026: 598 · 2025: 580 · 2024: 534 · 2023: 576 · 2022: 561 · 2021: 515 · 2020: 379 · 2019: 230 · 2018: 191 · 2017: 149 · 2016: 111 · 2015: 131 · 2014: 92 · 2013: 63 · 2012: 40
FWCI
7.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annals of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • John Templeton Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (Z99 RG999999, 5r01ag036433-02)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01 AG 036433-01, R01-AG036433, R01AG034052)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
loneliness, social isolation, hypervigilance, social danger, vulnerability, sleep quality, physical health effects, mental health outcomes, attentional bias, memory bias, loneliness interventions, physiological function
MeSH terms
Cognition, Health Status, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Immune System, Loneliness, Mental Health, Mortality, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Gene Expression

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