Overview

• Study surveyed over 1,600 U.S. adults aged 18 to 81 on loneliness and sleep disturbances.
• Lonely individuals reported more frequent and intense nightmares.
• Hyperarousal and rumination were significant mediators of this relationship.
• Findings support the evolutionary theory that loneliness signals unmet social needs.
• Loneliness and sleep disorders are linked to higher risks of heart disease, stroke, and premature death.