Lonely traits and concomitant physiological processes: the MacArthur social neuroscience studies
Abstract
Loneliness is a complex set of feelings encompassing reactions to unfulfilled intimate and social needs. Although transient for some individuals, loneliness can be a chronic state for others. Prior research has shown that loneliness is a major risk factor for psychological disturbances and for broad-based morbidity and mortality. We examined differences between lonely and socially embedded individuals that might explain differences in health outcomes. Satisfying social relationships were associated with more positive outlooks on life, more secure attachments and interactions with others, more autonomic activation when confronting acute psychological challenges, and more efficient restorative behaviors. Individuals who were chronically lonely were characterized by elevated mean salivary cortisol levels across the course of a day, suggesting more discharges of corticotropin-releasing hormone and elevated activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocorticol axis. An experimental manipulation of loneliness further suggested that the way in which people construe their self in relation to others around them has powerful effects on their self concept and, possibly, on their physiology.
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Chronic loneliness is linked to higher salivary cortisol, which suggests a stronger physiological stress response.
“Chronic feelings of loneliness (i.e., one facet of thwarted belongingness) are associated with elevated salivary cortisol levels, suggesting higher levels of a physiologic stress response (Cacioppo, Ernst, Burleson, McClintock, Malarkey, Hawkley, et al., 2000).”
From The interpersonal theory of suicide. (2010) · cites this paper as Cacioppo, Ernst, Burleson, McClintock, Malarkey, Hawkley, et al., 2000
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“, one facet of thwarted belongingness) are associated with elevated salivary cortisol levels, suggesting higher levels of a physiologic stress response (Cacioppo et al., 2000).”
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“Among young adults who were administered this task, the lonely and nonlonely groups did not differ in performance when directed to attend to their pre-potent right ear, but the lonely group performed significantly worse than the nonlonely group when directed to shift attention to their non-prepotent left ear [30].”
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- Authors
- Cacioppo, J. T., Ernst, J. M., Burleson, M. H., McClintock, M. K., Malarkey, W. B., Hawkley, L. C., Kowalewski, R. B., Paulsen, A., Hobson, J. A., Hugdahl, K., Spiegel, D., & Berntson, G. G.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Illinois Wesleyan University (US)
- Arizona State University (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Bergen (NO)
- Stanford Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cacioppo, John T
- ORCID
- Venue
- International Journal of Psychophysiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2000-03
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 2-3
- Pages
- 143-154
- ISSN
- 0167-8760 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2130114735
- Cited by
- 492
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 0.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Psychophysiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH019728, MH19728)
- National Center for Research Resources (MO1 RR 00034, M01RR000034)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- loneliness, chronic loneliness, interpersonal relationships, salivary cortisol, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, autonomic activation, self-concept, social attachment, health outcomes
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Loneliness, Psychophysiology, Risk Factors, Social Behavior
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