Lonely people tend to have more nightmares, according to OSU research

(AUGUST 14, 2024)  Lonely people are more likely to have bad dreams. That's the result of new research. It's important because both loneliness and sleep disorders are serious public health issues. They are connected to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and premature death.

Colin Hesse is a researcher at Oregon State University in Corvallis. He worked with other researchers at the University of Arizona, the University of Tampa, and Whitworth University.  They conducted a survey of more than 1,600 adults in the U.S. ranging in age from 18 to 81.

The researchers say that stress is part of the link between loneliness and both nightmare frequency (how often) and intensity (how strong). Other factors connecting loneliness to nightmares appear to be: worry, anxiety, and hyperarousal (being extra alert and focused). Like stress, rumination and hyperarousal are mind states associated with loneliness. 

Belonging, on the other hand, is essential to human survival. “Interpersonal relationships are very much a core human need,” says Hesse. “When people’s need for strong relationships goes unmet, they suffer physically, mentally and socially. Just like hunger or fatigue means you haven’t gotten enough calories or sleep, loneliness has evolved to alert individuals when their needs for interpersonal connection are going unfulfilled.”

Loneliness is a common condition. It affects health because it damages sleep quality. According to the Sleep Foundation, an estimated 50 million to 70 million Americans have some type of sleep disorder. “Quality restorative sleep is a linchpin for cognitive functioning, mood regulation, metabolism and many other aspects of well-being,” Hesse said. “That’s why it’s so critical to investigate the psychological states that disrupt sleep, loneliness being key among them.”

The U.S. Surgeon General’s office reports that even before COVID-19, about half of American adults reported measurable levels of loneliness. It is now similar to smoking for raising the risk of premature death. Statistics from the Surgeon General’s office include:

• A 29% increased risk of heart disease.

• A 32% increased risk of stroke.

• A 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.

• A greater than 60% chance of premature death.

In addition, people who often feel lonely are more than twice as likely to develop depression than those who rarely or never feel lonely.