Understanding how social connections can improve heart health and reduce loneliness
Official title: Friends are good for the heart: Investigating neurocognitive mechanisms underlying successful social learning that can reduce loneliness and associated cardiovascular diseases
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-10899008 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | December 20, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $34,803 |
| NIH project number | 1F31HL173957-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10899008 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing significant life changes, such as starting a new job or transitioning to a new school.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing any major life transitions or who do not experience feelings of loneliness may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmidt, Helen — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Schmidt, Helen
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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.