Loneliness, social isolation, and behavioral and biological health indicators in older adults.

Shankar, Aparna; McMunn, Anne; Banks, James; Steptoe, Andrew

doi:10.1037/a0022826

Cited by 842 publications

(724 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Similarly, in an adult sample of both males and females (over 40 years old), those who were the most socially isolated were 2.5 times more likely to have elevated CRP levels compared with those individuals who were the most socially integrated (Heffner et al, 2011). Comparable effects have been observed in other studies of older adults as well (Shankar et al, 2011). Finally, in addition to objective social isolation, subjective social isolation or the experience of being lonely has also been shown to be associated with increased inflammation.…”

Section: Social Isolation Is Associated With Increased Inflammatory Asupporting

confidence: 52%

In Sickness and in Health: The Co-Regulation of Inflammation and Social Behavior

Eisenberger

Moieni

Inagaki

et al. 2016

Neuropsychopharmacol

302

220

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Although it has commonly been assumed that the immune system and the processes that govern social behavior are separate, non-communicating entities, research over the past several decades suggests otherwise. Considerable evidence now shows that inflammatory processes and social behavior are actually powerful regulators of one another. This review first summarizes evidence that inflammatory processes regulate social behavior, leading to characteristic changes that may help an individual navigate the social environment during times of sickness. Specifically, this review shows that inflammation: (1) increases threatrelated neural sensitivity to negative social experiences (eg, rejection, negative social feedback), presumably to enhance sensitivity to threats to well-being or safety in order to avoid them and (2) enhances reward-related neural sensitivity to positive social experiences (eg, viewing close others and receiving positive social feedback), presumably to increase approach-related motivation towards others who might provide support and care during sickness. Next, this review summarizes evidence showing that social behavior also regulates aspects of inflammatory activity, preparing the body for situations in which wounding and infection may be more likely (social isolation). Here, we review research showing: (1) that exposure to social stressors increases proinflammatory activity, (2) that individuals who are more socially isolated (ie, lonely) show increased proinflammatory activity, and (3) that individuals who are more socially isolated show increased proinflammatory activity in response to an inflammatory challenge or social stressor. The implications of the co-regulation of inflammation and social behavior are discussed.

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Section: Social Isolation Is Associated With Increased Inflammatory Asupporting

confidence: 52%

In Sickness and in Health: The Co-Regulation of Inflammation and Social Behavior

Eisenberger

Moieni

Inagaki

et al. 2016

Neuropsychopharmacol

302

220

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show abstract

“…This study supports other study findings on the positive relationships between depression and elevated hs-CRP and fibrinogen levels [6,7]. Social isolation and loneliness were positively associated with hs-CRP and fibrinogen levels in older adults [37]. Since depression was not a significant issue, CVD biomarkers were not significant.…”

Section: Cvd Biomarkerssupporting

confidence: 90%

Effect of a Randomized Controlled Trial Walking Program on Walking, Stress, Depressive Symptoms and Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Elderly Korean Immigrants

Sin

Ibarra²,

Tae³

et al. 2015

Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in theUnited States and other developed countries. Racial/ethnic minority groups in the U.S. have the highest prevalence of CVD risk factors and CVD mortality [1]. Elderly Korean immigrants (EKIs) are one of the fastest growing minority groups in the U.S. [2]. EKIs have a high prevalence of CVD risk factors such as physical inactivity and depression [3][4][5].Depression is particularly prevalent in this population, which is important because depression accentuates the inflammatory responses such as serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen, precipitating CVD events [6,7]. EKIs seem to have elevated stress due to socio-environmental changes (e.g., language barriers, changes in socioeconomic status, feelings of loneliness and a sense of not belonging) and social isolation from immigration, which appear to influence the high prevalence of depression in this minority population [4,8].With increasing immigration and higher numbers of aging Korean immigrants, the prevalence of CVD is expected to increase among EKIs.Regular physical activity has a significant influence on CVD risk factors [9][10][11]. A study reported that minority individuals tend to be less physically active than the national recommendations suggest [12]. Walking is a commonly used exercise among Koreans and is accessible to most individuals with little risk of injury [3]. Regular walking is associated with lower levels of hemostatic and inflammatory markers [13,14]. Despite its Purpose: Despite well-known benefits of walking on cardiovascular health, no structured walking exercise program has been formally tested on elderly Korean immigrants (EKIs). This pilot randomized controlled trial study assessed the effect of a walking program on walking behavior (pedometer steps count), stress (cortisol), depressive symptoms (CESD-10), and cardiovascular disease biomarkers (hs-CRP and fibrinogen) via venipuncture in EKIs. Methods: Seventy EKIs recruited from a Korean community were randomly assigned to a 12-week walking group or control group in a 3:2 ratio. The working program included a pedometer, buddy, monthly coffee card, weekly call for goal setting, and physical activity consultation. Walking group EKIs maintained the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended exercise guidelines and good mental health status over 12 weeks. Results: There was no significant difference in the outcomes between control and walking groups. Conclusion: Social networking with Koreans in the senior center and church from a well-established Korean community might have positive effects on mental health. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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“…Socially isolated individuals differ from those not isolated in many important ways, including being more socioeconomically deprived, more likely to smoke, and less likely to partake in physical activity. 5 In prospective studies, these factors can only be measured imperfectly and often at just one timepoint. Adjustment for imperfectly measured variables can result in a residual apparent increase in mortality risk.…”

Section: Unravelling the Associations Between Social Isolation Lonelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unravelling the associations between social isolation, loneliness, and mortality

Liu

Floud

2017

The Lancet Public Health

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Loneliness, social isolation, and behavioral and biological health indicators in older adults.

Abstract: Loneliness and social isolation may affect health independently through their effects on health behaviors. In addition, social isolation may also affect health through biological processes associated with the development of cardiovascular disease.

Cited by 842 publications

References 79 publications

In Sickness and in Health: The Co-Regulation of Inflammation and Social Behavior

In Sickness and in Health: The Co-Regulation of Inflammation and Social Behavior

Effect of a Randomized Controlled Trial Walking Program on Walking, Stress, Depressive Symptoms and Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Elderly Korean Immigrants

Unravelling the associations between social isolation, loneliness, and mortality

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