Research
Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD serves as the engAGED Project Research Advisor. As Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Brigham Young University, Dr. Holt-Lunstad’s research is focused on the long-term health effects of social connection. Her work has been seminal in the recognition of social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for early mortality. To read more of Dr. Holt-Lunstad’s research, visit julianneholtlunstad.byu.edu/publications.
Read below for additional social engagement and social isolation research.
Addressing Social Isolation to Improve the Health of Older Adults
This review evaluates the impact of interventions that target social isolation/loneliness in older adults, and the related outcomes of social isolation/loneliness, health and health care utilization.
A recent study published in the Journal of Aging and Mental Health found that mortality was higher among older women and men who are experiencing higher levels of loneliness or social isolation.
Research from Yale and the University of Maryland found older adults who are socially isolated before hospitalization in the ICU have an increased risk of disability and mortality in the year following their hospitalization. Programs to increase social engagement and connectedness help reduce social isolation among older adults recovering from critical illness, and the study’s researchers plan to focus future analyses on improving social participation among older adults recovering from hospitalizations.
A National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP study of more than 1,400 unpaid family caregivers paints a portrait of the state of caregiving in an aging America, including the isolation and loneliness caregivers are experiencing.
Evaluation of Social Isolation, Loneliness and Cardiovascular Disease Among Older Women in the US
This cohort study examined whether there are associations between social isolation, loneliness and cardiovascular disease among older women. Findings indicate that older women with greater social isolation and greater loneliness had a 13 to 27 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, compared with women who reported lower rates of social isolation and loneliness.
Loneliness, Social Isolation and All-Cause Mortality in a Large Sample of Older Adults
Using data from a large random sample, this study examined the effect of loneliness and social isolation on mortality on older adults. Researchers found that both loneliness and social isolation contribute to greater risk of mortality within the population studied.
Loneliness and Social Isolation in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan: An International Survey
The Kaiser Family Foundation in partnership with the Economist recently released an international survey which outlines the prevalence of and how people view the issues of loneliness and social isolation. One key finding is that while some respondents view technology as contributing to these issues, others see social media as contributing to connections.Rate of Living Alone by Rurality and Age
Pulling from data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013-2017 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates, the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center found living alone, which is associated with higher risk of social isolation, is more common in non-metro counties, with a pattern of high rates of living alone in the Great Plains region.
Research Connecting Social Contact with Lower Dementia Risk
Results from this research study suggests that more frequent social contact during the latter half of life is associated with lower risk of dementia. This study is the follow-up to an original observational cohort study that examined the ‘protective effect’ that social contact provides against dementia.
Rural Aging: Health and Community Policy Implications for Reversing Social Isolation
The report from a roundtable discussion hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) titled “Rural Aging: Health and Community Policy Implications for Reversing Social Isolation” in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2018. The report provides a definition of social isolation, an analysis of the impact isolation has on older adults in rural areas and a discussion on action oriented solutions.Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Rural and Urban People with Disabilities
A recent study from the University of Montana Rural Institute found that people with disabilities aged 50-64 were more than twice as likely as people without disabilities to report social isolation and loneliness. Researchers posit that structural barriers to employment and transportation may be significant predictors of this trend.
Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System
A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine summarizes the social isolation and loneliness evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness impacts health and quality of life of older adults. The report offers recommendations for health care to translate research into practice.
This systematic review analyzed 17 studies to examine loneliness and social isolation specifically in Hispanic/Latinx older adults. The studies found loneliness is associated with a greater number of comorbid conditions and social isolation is associated with worse physical health within this population.
Understanding Social and Emotional Loneliness Among Black Older Adults: A Scoping Review
A recent literature review drew on 27 studies conducted across the globe to examine the influence of factors contributing to loneliness in black older adults. The article mapped the data across Weiss’ Social Provision Framework, which includes provisions such as social integration and attachment. Given the lack of knowledge on addressing loneliness in this population, the authors indicated that there is a need for further research to pinpoint relevant interventions.