New research from the University of Limerick (UL) has revealed that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone is associated with premature death for those with cardiovascular disease.
Results from the new international study – published in the ‘Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine’ – found that people with cardiovascular disease who have higher levels of loneliness, social isolation, and who live alone, tend to die prematurely.
The research, which encompasses studies from around the world, sheds new light on the negative health impact of loneliness, social isolation, and living alone for people with cardiovascular disease, which is among the leading causes of death and disability in Ireland.
The research was led by Róisín Long, a student on the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology at UL, under the supervision of Dr Páraic Ó Súilleabháin and Dr Ann-Marie Creaven.
Working with a team of collaborators from the Department of Psychology at UL, the College of Medicine at Florida State University, and the Department of Psychology at Humboldt University Berlin, the researchers wanted to investigate if loneliness, social isolation, and living alone status would predict long-term mortality risk in people living with cardiovascular disease.
Lead author Róisín Long, who is a professional clinical psychologist, explained, “social health factors such as loneliness and social isolation have gained a significant amount of attention recently and are really important to think of within the context of cardiovascular health.”
“What was unclear is to what degree they impact how long people live when they have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Our review found that each of these factors are critically important to consider in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, as increased levels of loneliness, social isolation, and living alone appears to lead to premature death. There are likely several reasons for this ranging from support from another individual to how an individual biologically responds to stress.”
The review included studies that followed people for decades across multiple regions including Europe, North America, and Asia. Each factor was found to be predictive of mortality risk. The effects of living alone appeared stronger in European countries, perhaps reflecting the large number of those living alone in parts of Europe.
The researchers concluded, “while supporting public health concerns surrounding loneliness and social isolation, the study points to the need for rigorous research in this area across a greater range of geographical regions.”
Source: Irish Medical Times
