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LonelinessEvidence & Dosage

A cardiovascular and mental health risk — and what to do about it.

Evidence at a glance

Total studies
438
With abstract
48
Meta / Systematic / RCT
2
Highly cited
2
Publication years
1983–2026

Loneliness in the context of Methods

This topic is part of our "Methods" world. There you'll find methodology, evidence and the highest-impact levers — plus the order in which they sensibly build on each other.

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Top studies on Loneliness

Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.

  1. Loneliness in everyday life: cardiovascular activity, psychosocial context, and health behaviors.

    Journal of personality and social psychology2003100 influential citations

    Prior lab research revealed higher basal total peripheral resistance (TPR) and lower cardiac output (CO) in lonely than in nonlonely young adults. In this study, experience sampling was used to obtain ambulatory blood pressure; impedance…

  2. Social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for the progression of frailty: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

    Age and ageing2018n=2,81714 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>loneliness and social isolation have been associated with mortality and with functional decline in older people. We investigated whether loneliness or social isolation are associated with progression of…

  3. Six-month outcomes of layperson-delivered, telephone-based behavioural activation and mindfulness interventions on loneliness among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: The HEAL-HOA Dual Randomised Controlled Trial.

    Age Ageing2025n=115RCT4 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>Loneliness among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic constituted a global public health crisis. This study aimed to determine whether layperson- and telephone-delivered behavioural activation (Tele-BA) and…

  4. Daily loneliness deconstructed: Examining patterns of within- and between-person variation.

    Emotion2026n=981 influential citations

    There is growing interest in examining loneliness using intensive repeated assessment methods in daily life; however, much remains unknown regarding variation in loneliness at the within- and between-person level. Better characterizing…

  5. Addressing the silent epidemic: a narrative review and evidence synthesis of digital health and telehealth interventions for loneliness in older adults.

    Aging clinical and experimental research2026D

    Loneliness and social isolation represent major threats to the health and well-being of older adults, conferring elevated risks for depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality. The rapid proliferation of…

  6. The dynamics of loneliness: Longitudinal associations of anhedonia and dampening in a clinical sample of depressed individuals

    Journal of Affective Disorders2026n=150

    The longitudinal relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms is well documented. However, few studies have considered the bidirectional relationship between loneliness and anhedonia, a cardinal symptom of depression. Moreover,…

  7. The association between loneliness and suicide ideation: A cross-sectional comparison of Latin American immigrants and Spanish natives in Spain

    Journal of Affective Disorders2026n=1,724

    <h4>Background</h4>Suicidal ideation is a key mental health concern and a strong predictor of suicide attempts. While loneliness is a well-established correlate of suicidal ideation, few studies have explored how this association varies…

  8. Association of social isolation and loneliness with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in individuals with metabolic syndrome: A prospective study

    Journal of Affective Disorders2026

    <h4>Background</h4>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) presents significant challenges to public health, yet prospective evidence on the associations of social isolation and loneliness with mortality in this population remains…

  9. Social Isolation and Loneliness Among U.S. Adults With Self-Reported Hospitalization

    American Journal of Preventive Medicine2026

    <h4>Introduction</h4>This study aims to examine the prevalence and factors associated with social isolation and loneliness among U.S. adults with self-reported hospitalization.<h4>Methods</h4>Cross-sectional survey data from adults aged…

  10. The effectiveness of digital cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing loneliness among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

    Journal of Affective Disorders2026

    <h4>Background</h4>As the world's population ages faster, the issue of older adults' loneliness has become more important. Research shows loneliness significantly reduces their quality of life and is strongly linked to mental health…

Frequently asked

Which population does the evidence apply to?
Most studies investigated: unknown.

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