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Effects of chronic and state loneliness on heart rate variability in women Roddick, Charlotte; Chen, Frances S.
Abstract
Background Loneliness, the subjective experience of social isolation, represents one of the largest risk factors for physical illness and early death in humans. However, the mechanisms by which loneliness leads to adverse health outcomes are not well understood. Purpose In this study, we examined altered parasympathetic nervous system function as a potential pathway by which chronic loneliness and state loneliness may “get under the skin” to impact cardiovascular physiology. Methods In a controlled laboratory setting, vagally-mediated resting heart rate variability (HRV), HRV reactivity to an induction of state loneliness, and HRV reactivity to a cognitive challenge task were assessed in a sample of 316 healthy women (18–28 years). Results Greater chronic loneliness in women predicted lower resting HRV, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, after controlling for demographic, psychosocial, and health behavior covariates. Furthermore, women higher in chronic loneliness experienced significantly larger increases in HRV to state loneliness and reported significantly higher levels of negative affect immediately following state loneliness, compared to their less chronically lonely counterparts. Chronic loneliness also predicted blunted HRV reactivity—a maladaptive physiological response—to cognitive challenge. Conclusions The current findings provide evidence that chronic loneliness is associated with altered parasympathetic function (both resting HRV and HRV reactivity) in women, and that the immediate experience of state loneliness is linked to a proximate increase in HRV among chronically lonely women. Results are discussed in terms of implications for cardiovascular health and the evolutionary functions of loneliness.
Item Metadata
Title |
Effects of chronic and state loneliness on heart rate variability in women
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Alternate Title |
Effects of loneliness on HRV in women
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Creator | |
Publisher |
Oxford University Press
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Date Issued |
2020-09-05
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Description |
Background Loneliness, the subjective experience of social isolation, represents one of the
largest risk factors for physical illness and early death in humans. However, the mechanisms by
which loneliness leads to adverse health outcomes are not well understood. Purpose In this
study, we examined altered parasympathetic nervous system function as a potential pathway by
which chronic loneliness and state loneliness may “get under the skin” to impact cardiovascular
physiology. Methods In a controlled laboratory setting, vagally-mediated resting heart rate
variability (HRV), HRV reactivity to an induction of state loneliness, and HRV reactivity to a
cognitive challenge task were assessed in a sample of 316 healthy women (18–28 years). Results
Greater chronic loneliness in women predicted lower resting HRV, an independent risk factor for
cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, after controlling for demographic, psychosocial,
and health behavior covariates. Furthermore, women higher in chronic loneliness experienced
significantly larger increases in HRV to state loneliness and reported significantly higher levels
of negative affect immediately following state loneliness, compared to their less chronically
lonely counterparts. Chronic loneliness also predicted blunted HRV reactivity—a maladaptive
physiological response—to cognitive challenge. Conclusions The current findings provide
evidence that chronic loneliness is associated with altered parasympathetic function (both resting
HRV and HRV reactivity) in women, and that the immediate experience of state loneliness is
linked to a proximate increase in HRV among chronically lonely women. Results are discussed
in terms of implications for cardiovascular health and the evolutionary functions of loneliness.
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Subject | |
Genre | |
Type | |
Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2021-09-05
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0397413
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URI | |
Affiliation | |
Citation |
Roddick, C.M., & Chen, F.S. (2020) Effects of chronic and state loneliness on heart rate variability in women. Annals of Behavioral Medicine
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Publisher DOI |
10.1093/abm/kaaa065
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Peer Review Status |
Reviewed
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Scholarly Level |
Faculty; Graduate
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Copyright Holder |
Society of Behavioural Medicine; Oxford University Press
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Rights URI | |
Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International