Understanding how social connections can improve heart health and reduce loneliness
Friends are good for the heart: Investigating neurocognitive mechanisms underlying successful social learning that can reduce loneliness and associated cardiovascular diseases
This study is looking at how making new friends during big life changes can affect feelings of loneliness and heart health, and it's for anyone interested in understanding why some people adjust better than others when it comes to social connections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10899008 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how learning new social structures during major life transitions can impact feelings of loneliness and cardiovascular health. By studying a group of individuals as they form new social networks, the research aims to identify the neurocognitive mechanisms that influence social learning success. Participants will undergo assessments that measure both psychological and physiological responses to social interactions, helping to uncover why some people adapt better than others. The findings could provide insights into effective interventions for reducing loneliness and improving heart health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing significant life changes, such as starting a new job or transitioning to a new school.
Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing any major life transitions or who do not experience feelings of loneliness may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for reducing loneliness and improving cardiovascular health among individuals facing major life transitions.
How similar studies have performed: While the relationship between social connections and health is well-documented, this specific approach combining neurocognitive methods with social learning is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Temple Univ of the Commonwealth — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmidt, Helen — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Schmidt, Helen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.