Cited by 726Health disparities and outcomesBlood Pressure and Hypertension StudiesCardiac Health and Mental Health

Loneliness predicts increased blood pressure: 5-year cross-lagged analyses in middle-aged and older adults.

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Hawkley, Louise C., Thisted, Ronald A., Masi, Christopher M., Cacioppo, John T.·2010·Psychology and Aging

Abstract

Loneliness is a prevalent social problem with serious physiological and health implications. However, much of the research to date is based on cross-sectional data, including our own earlier finding that loneliness was associated with elevated blood pressure (Hawkley, Masi, Berry & Cacioppo, 2006). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the effect of loneliness accumulates to produce greater increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) over a 4-year period than are observed in less lonely individuals. A population-based sample of 229 50- to 68-year-old White, Black, and Hispanic men and women in the Chicago Health, Aging, and Social Relations Study was tested annually for each of 5 consecutive years. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that loneliness at study onset predicted increases in SBP 2, 3, and 4 years later (B = 0.152, SE = 0.091, p < .05, one-tailed). These increases were cumulative such that higher initial levels of loneliness were associated with greater increases in SBP over a 4-year period. The effect of loneliness on SBP was independent of age, gender, race or ethnicity, cardiovascular risk factors, medications, health conditions, and the effects of depressive symptoms, social support, perceived stress, and hostility.

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  1. Cheng S-T Loneliness-distress and physician utilization in well-elderly females Journal of Community Psychology 1992 20 1 43 56

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Authors
Hawkley, L. C., Thisted, R. A., Masi, C. M., & Cacioppo, J. T.
Affiliations
University of Chicago (US)
Venue
Psychology and Aging
Published
2010-03
Volume
25
Issue
1
Pages
132-141
ISSN
  • 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1498
OpenAlex
W2101196871
Cited by
726
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 61 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 89 · 2021: 60 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 20
FWCI
20.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R01-AG036433-01; R01-AG034052)
  • John Templeton Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
Keywords
loneliness, systolic blood pressure, hypertension, middle-aged and older adults, cumulative effects, social isolation, cardiovascular risk
MeSH terms
Aged, Aging, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Diseases, Chicago, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Health Surveys, Hostility, Humans, Loneliness, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychological, Health Behavior

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