Loneliness: Cause & TargetLoneliness: Cause & Target

Louise Hawkley, Ph.D.Louise Hawkley, Ph.D.

Department of PsychologyDepartment of Psychology

University of ChicagoUniversity of ChicagoPrepared for:Prepared for:

NIA/IPSR WorkshopNIA/IPSR Workshop

May 21, 2009May 21, 2009

Loneliness: The whyLoneliness: The why

“All doctors soon learn that their patients consult them far less often for specific illnesses than because they are unhappy and seek relief from their loneliness and despair” (Goldberg, 2001).

“I can tell you without a doubt that virtually everyone I see comes to me because of some deficiency of human contact. Indeed, I am increasingly sought out because people feel lonely, isolated, or confused at work. They feel cut off” (Hallowell, 1999, p. 126).

“What makes life valuable for those of us with mental illness?...Exactly what is necessary for other people. We need to feel wanted, accepted and loved…We need support from friends and family…We need to feel a part of the human race, to have friends. We need to give and receive love” (Davidson & Stayner, 1997).

Loneliness: The whoLoneliness: The who

More lonely

Less lonely

Loneliness was related to:– Marital status– Lack of spousal

confidant– Number of voluntary

associations– Physical health

symptoms & disability– Chronic work and/or

social stress– Small social network– Poor quality social

relationships

Hawkley, Hughes, et al., 2008Hawthorne, 2008; Pinquart & Sorenson, 2003

Loneliness: The whatLoneliness: The what

Booth, R. (2000). Loneliness as a component of psychiatric disorders: The relationship between loneliness and depression. Medscape General Medicine, 2(2).

Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Factor 5 Factor 6 Factor 7 Factor 8 Factor 9

0.75 0.07 0.07 -0.06 0.04 -0.13 -0.03 0.04 -0.01

0.72 -0.17 -0.18 -0.06 -0.17 -0.07 0.05 0.05 0.11

CESD2. I did not feel like eating; my appetite was poor. 0.68 -0.14 -0.04 -0.01 0.28 0.02 0.21 -0.15 0.08

CESD6. I felt depressed. 0.65 -0.04 0.06 0.35 -0.26 -0.15 -0.18 -0.09 -0.02

0.62 -0.02 -0.17 -0.18 -0.05 0.03 -0.05 0.29 -0.17

CESD20. I could not get 'going.' 0.61 0.17 0.02 -0.08 -0.14 -0.03 -0.18 -0.02 -0.05

CESD11. My sleep was restless. 0.54 0.03 0.13 0.08 0.05 -0.23 0.10 0.07 -0.10

CESD7. I felt that everything I did was an effort. 0.54 0.10 0.13 0.06 -0.08 0.16 -0.06 -0.08 0.12

CESD17. I had crying spells. 0.52 -0.22 -0.17 0.32 0.11 0.10 -0.05 -0.00 0.13

CESD18. I felt sad. 0.42 -0.06 0.03 0.33 -0.13 0.01 -0.01 0.02 -0.03

CESD15. People were unfriendly. 0.26 0.17 -0.18 0.05 0.12 0.20 -0.06 -0.06 -0.10

UCLA20. There are people I can turn to. -0.05 -0.15 0.85 0.03 -0.16 -0.04 0.04 -0.04 -0.02

UCLA19. There are people I can talk to. -0.08 -0.12 0.79 0.06 -0.06 -0.11 0.13 0.09 0.02

UCLA10. There are people I feel close to. 0.19 -0.16 0.61 0.06 0.05 -0.01 -0.01 0.05 0.05

UCLA16. There are people who really understand me. -0.08 -0.21 0.53 0.12 0.08 -0.04 0.08 0.09 -0.03

CESD10. I felt fearful. 0.09 -0.07 0.10 0.80 0.12 0.15 -0.08 -0.09 -0.20

CESD14. I felt lonely. 0.11 0.17 0.14 0.53 -0.06 0.07 0.20 0.05 -0.07

UCLA15. I can find companionship when I want it. -0.02 0.25 0.30 -0.32 -0.07 -0.13 -0.18 0.03 0.31

CESD12. I was happy. -0.2 -0.06 -0.01 0.17 0.74 -0.09 0.00 0.06 -0.04

CESD16. I enjoyed life. 0.03 -0.01 -0.11 -0.14 0.74 -0.22 0.02 0.12 0.04

CESD8. I felt hopeful about the future. 0.08 0.27 0.18 0.20 0.39 -0.24 -0.32 -0.04 0.10

Cacioppo, Hawkley, et al., 2006

Cultures ICultures Institutions Neighborhoods Social Networksnstitutions Neighborhoods Social Networks

Exposure toStressors & Life Events

RecuperativeProcesses

HealthBehaviors

Perceived Stress and Coping

Stress Response

AGE

Physiological ResilienceIndividual Differences

Loneliness: The howLoneliness: The how

TPR: 18-25 yr-olds

*

SBP: 50-68 yr-olds

Hawkley, Thisted, Masi, & Cacioppo (under review)

Previous findingsPrevious findings

BP5

BP5

L1L1 L2L2 L3L3 L4L4 L5L5

BP1

BP1

BP2

BP2

BP3

BP3

BP4

BP4

.740** .771** .771** .771**

.513** .489** .489** .489**

.005 .015 .015 .015.058

.17* .17* .17*

-.104 -.104 -.104

AgeFemaleBlack HispanicDiplomaSmoker1Exsmoker1BMI1Exercise1Alcohol1Antilipid1CVagent1Charlson1

Smoker2Exsmoker2BMI2Exercise2Alcohol2Antilipid2CVagent2Charlson2

Smoker3Exsmoker3BMI3Exercise3Alcohol3Antilipid3CVagent3Charlson3

Smoker4Exsmoker4BMI4Exercise4Alcohol4Antilipid4CVagent4Charlson4

Smoker5Exsmoker5BMI5Exercise5Alcohol5Antilipid5CVagent5Charlson5

.189†

AgeFemaleBlack HispanicDiplomaSmoker1Exsmoker1BMI1Exercise1Alcohol1Antilipid1CVagent1Charlson1

Smoker2Exsmoker2BMI2Exercise2Alcohol2Antilipid2CVagent2Charlson2

Smoker3Exsmoker3BMI3Exercise3Alcohol3Antilipid3CVagent3Charlson3

Smoker4Exsmoker4BMI4Exercise4Alcohol4Antilipid4CVagent4Charlson4

Smoker5Exsmoker5BMI5Exercise5Alcohol5Antilipid5CVagent5Charlson5

-.053 -.029 -.198† -.037

Hawkley, Thisted, Masi, & Cacioppo (under review)

Loneliness predicts increases in SBPLoneliness predicts increases in SBP

Loneliness: The now what?Loneliness: The now what?

Meta-Analysis: Meta-Analysis: Which Which

treatments, for treatments, for how long, and for how long, and for

whom?whom?

Single Group Pre-Post Design (N=11) ES = -0.401; 95% CI: -0.46, -0.34; p < .001

Non-Randomized Group Comparison Design (N=12)ES = -0.468; 95% CI: -0.62, -0.32; p < .001

Randomized Group Comparison Design (N=18)ES = -0.032; 95% CI: -0.13, 0.07; p > .5

LONELINESS: TARGET

Masi, Chen, Hawkley, & Cacioppo (under review)