By SHUBHAJIT Chakraborty

In a recent study conducted by University of Chicago shows the direct relation between loneliness and larger increases of blood pressure – a link that is singular of other factors such as body mass index, smoking, alcohol and demographic differences like race and income.

Earlier it was contemplating that depression and stress could be a possible factor for high blood pressure in elderly but in this study found that those factors did not fully explained that cause of high blood pressure among people 50 years and older.

“Loneliness behaved as though it is a unique health-risk factor in its own right,” wrote researcher Louise Hawkley in an article, “Loneliness Predicts Increased Blood Pressure,” published in the current issue of the journal Psychology and Aging.

The research group that involved in the study were Hawkley, Senior Research Scientist with the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience, Ronald Thisted, Chairman of Health Studies; Christopher Masi, Assistant Professor in Medicine; and John Cacioppo, the Tiffany & Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor in Psychology.

The research was based on a study of 229 people of age group of 50 to 68. Groups were randomly chosen, including whites, African Americans and Latinos. The people were asked by number of questions to find the loneliness in their lives. Also, they were asked to rate connections with others through a series of topics, such as “I have a lot in common with the people around me,” “My social relationships are superficial” and “I can find companionship when I want it.”

It is noted that professor Hawkley had studied the the link between loneliness and blood pressure among older people during her five year research.

“The increase associated with loneliness wasn’t observable until two years into the study, but then continued to increase until four years later,” she said.

“Loneliness is characterized by a motivational impulse to connect with others but also a fear of negative evaluation, rejection and disappointment,” Hawkley said. “We hypothesize that threats to one’s sense of safety and security with others are toxic components of loneliness, and that hyper-vigilance for social threat may contribute to alterations in physiological functioning, including elevated blood pressure.”