Loneliness can have negative effects on both physical and mental health, such as increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. A recent study in the United States suggests that loneliness can also lead to poor sleep quality and frequent nightmares. Therefore, it is crucial to explore ways to alleviate feelings of loneliness for overall health.
According to a press release from Oregon State University on August 6, a collaborative study involving several universities, including Oregon State University, revealed that lonely individuals are more prone to experiencing nightmares.
Colin Hesse, Dean of the College of Communication at the university, emphasized the significance of this finding, stating that loneliness and sleep disorders are serious public health issues associated with increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
Hesse explained that stress plays a part in the link between loneliness and the frequency and intensity of nightmares. Other factors connecting loneliness and nightmares appear to be rumination (worry and anxiety) and hyperarousal. Like stress, rumination and hyperarousal are psychological states associated with loneliness.
The research surveyed over 1,600 individuals aged 18 to 81 across the United States. Participants initially answered questions to gauge their level of loneliness, such as how often they felt a lack of companionship or left out. Subsequently, a scale was used to assess the reported frequency of nightmares. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between the occurrence of nightmares and individual levels of loneliness and stress.
Hesse stated, “Interpersonal relationships are a fundamental human need. When people’s need for secure connections is not met, they experience distress on physical, mental, and social levels.”
He likened the need for interpersonal relationships to hunger or fatigue, equating unmet social needs to a warning sign, just as hunger or fatigue indicate a lack of calories or sleep. Loneliness is a widespread condition that can greatly harm health, leading to various forms of suffering, including compromised sleep quality with nightmares being one form of such detriment.
While specific measures to address loneliness are still being explored, the study’s results suggest the potential for alleviating nightmare experiences through addressing feelings of loneliness.
Apart from causing nightmares, loneliness has also been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and premature death. Data from the Surgeon General’s office in the United States indicates that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of American adults reported significant feelings of loneliness, which, like smoking, can increase the risk of premature death.
According to the office’s statistics, loneliness increases the risk of heart disease by 29%, stroke by 32%, dementia in older adults by 50%, and the likelihood of premature death by over 60%. Moreover, individuals who frequently feel lonely are more than twice as likely to develop depression compared to those who rarely or never feel lonely.
To combat loneliness, especially among seniors, pet ownership has been recommended as a way to reduce loneliness and benefit brain health, potentially preventing cognitive decline.
Seniors forming friendships with pets can gradually overcome feelings of loneliness. The companionship of animals can impact every aspect of a senior’s life, promoting a sense of youthfulness and well-being from the inside out.