Key result
Social isolation was associated with slower post-task recovery of systolic blood pressure, higher cholesterol response to stress in men, and larger cortisol awakening responses and output.
Why the study?
Does social isolation affect cardiovascular, lipid, and cortisol responses to acute stress in healthy middle-aged adults?
Observational (n=238)
Does social isolation affect cardiovascular, lipid, and cortisol responses to acute stress in healthy middle-aged adults?
Social isolation may increase cardiovascular disease risk through stress-related dysregulation of cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuroendocrine processes.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Social isolation may elevate CVD risk via stress dysregulation; leaves open whether reducing isolation modifies these responses.
BACKGROUND: Social support is a strong and consistent predictor of health outcomes, and social isolation predicts increased morbidity and mortality. The mediating processes are not completely understood. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between social isolation and cardiovascular and lipid responses to acute stress in the laboratory, and cortisol profiles over the day. METHODS: Cardiovascular and lipid responses to acute stress tasks, and salivary cortisol monitoring, were carried out in 238 healthy middle-aged men and women from the Whitehall II cohort. Social isolation was measured using an adapted version of the Close Persons Questionnaire. RESULTS: Social isolation was associated with slower post-task recovery of systolic blood pressure in men and women, a higher cholesterol response to stress in men only, and also with larger cortisol awakening responses and greater cortisol output over the day in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of social isolation on cardiovascular disease risk may be mediated through stress-related dysregulation of cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuroendocrine processes.
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Grant et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Healthy (n=238). Social isolation was evaluated on Cardiovascular and lipid responses to acute stress tasks, and salivary cortisol profiles over the day. Social isolation was associated with slower post-task recovery of systolic blood pressure, higher cholesterol response to stress in men, and larger cortisol awakening responses and output.
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