May 2005 PMID 15898866

Loneliness, social network size, and immune response to influenza vaccination in college freshmen.

Sarah D Pressman, Sheldon Cohen, Gregory E Miller, Anita Barkin, Bruce S Rabin, John J Treanor

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Mentions

65
Peak: 3 in Feb 2023
across 5 sources since May 2022

Extended reach

16,547
potential audience

Total likes

28

Video views

834

Mentions per month

May 2022 – Dec 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News47 articles
  • Blogs8 articles
  • X / Twitter6 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect strong agreement with the research, often referencing specific findings such as lonely freshmen showing lower antibody responses and connecting social isolation with negative health outcomes, highlighting the importance of social factors in immunity and public health messaging.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the findings, emphasizing the link between loneliness and weaker immune responses.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high interest by referencing specific research results and asking further questions about implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several discussions explore the relationship deeply, sharing additional insights and implications for health.

ImpactModerate impact

Participants recognize the study as impactful, noting effects on public health strategies and personal health awareness.

Abstract in brief

  • The study examined how loneliness and social network size affect immune response to the flu vaccine in 83 college freshmen, finding that higher loneliness and smaller social networks were linked to weaker antibody responses.
  • Students who experienced both high loneliness and small social networks had the poorest immune responses, while loneliness was also connected to increased stress, negative feelings, worse sleep, and higher cortisol levels.
  • Only stress, not other factors like sleep or mood, appeared to explain the link between loneliness and weaker vaccine response, and social network size did not relate to these other variables.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Jaimie Arona Krems
@JaimieKrems · X

Friendship/Health/COVID researchers--a question: Pressman found that lonely freshmen or those with fewer friends showed lower immune responses after flu vaccination (and reduced immunity). Anyone know if this has been explored wrt COVID-19 vaccinations? https://t.co/ucRLwSlV8E

Feb 1, 2023 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 4,942 followers View post →
Stephen Duncan Nutrition
@sduncanhealth · X

@Pouldeau61 @BigGuy4U86 @taurusg333 @crabb_vicki @TinFoilAwards @AngryMouse23 @mcfunny @krebiozen @ShaneAKAProp @DaveBla81093404 @Kathmarval @AnnLove4All @Scary7Dr @TakethatCt @MsTrixter @khoombu @encyclopath @runhack @TheFrankmanMN @JRNave @TonyBaduy @1_TMF_ @Fornowago @NoPropagand @FUDyou2 @Catheri49917567 @RadioColor @tonymac5 @groin_hammer @WendyOrent @CyclopsSeesAll @doritmi @ScienceMonkey0 @Just4TheCause @zendogbreath @FormerAntivax @BruceFo43322941 @DK25769559 @BigBopp75348974 @provaxtexan @MarioMoney23 @bayouskeeter @handmadekathy @arcon_ryan @swedishchf @Redpanda74 @littleLishka @EntrepreneurFg @_mamadeb @SkepticalMutant Public health measures; stay at home live in fear and if you are an old vulnerable person don’t see your family. An example here of how these measures can negatively alter the bodies response to vaccination and also negative changes to health. https://t.co/VO

Oct 27, 2023 · 3,417 followers View post →
Stephen Duncan Nutrition
@sduncanhealth · X

@DaveBla81093404 @AngryMouse23 @ShaneAKAProp @krebiozen @taurusg333 @BB0941167867205 @mcfunny @BigGuy4U86 @Kathmarval @AnnLove4All @Scary7Dr @TakethatCt @MsTrixter @crabb_vicki @khoombu @Pouldeau61 @encyclopath @runhack @TheFrankmanMN @JRNave @TonyBaduy @TinFoilAwards @1_TMF_ @Fornowago @NoPropagand @FUDyou2 @Catheri49917567 @RadioColor @tonymac5 @groin_hammer @WendyOrent @CyclopsSeesAll @doritmi @ScienceMonkey0 @Just4TheCause @zendogbreath @FormerAntivax @BruceFo43322941 @DK25769559 @BigBopp75348974 @provaxtexan @MarioMoney23 @bayouskeeter @handmadekathy @arcon_ryan @swedishchf @Redpanda74 @littleLishka @EntrepreneurFg @_mamadeb That’s partly why I shared this with our Shame. Many factors impacting whether you get sick or not. Social isolation can lower immune response to their beloved pHarmaceuticals making their jabs less “effective”, bizarrely saving lives. https://t.co/VOcWZenvAu

Oct 28, 2023 · 3,417 followers View post →
Sean Mark, PhD
@Smark_phd · X

"Elevated levels of loneliness throughout the semester & small social networks were independently associated with poorer antibody response to the vaccine. Those with both high levels of loneliness & a small social network had the lowest antibody response." https://t.co/vnjafZrsmt

May 17, 2022 · 1,810 followers View post →
Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis (OCEAN)
@OCEAN_OKState · X

RT @JaimieKrems: Friendship/Health/COVID researchers--a question: Pressman found that lonely freshmen or those with fewer friends showed l…

Feb 1, 2023 · 2 shares · 1,301 followers View post →
Amanda Rotella
@AMRotella · X

RT @JaimieKrems: Friendship/Health/COVID researchers--a question: Pressman found that lonely freshmen or those with fewer friends showed l…

Feb 2, 2023 · 2 shares · 814 followers View post →

All mentions

Stephen Duncan Nutrition
@sduncanhealth · X

@DaveBla81093404 @AngryMouse23 @ShaneAKAProp @krebiozen @taurusg333 @BB0941167867205 @mcfunny @BigGuy4U86 @Kathmarval @AnnLove4All @Scary7Dr @TakethatCt @MsTrixter @crabb_vicki @khoombu @Pouldeau61 @encyclopath @runhack @TheFrankmanMN @JRNave @TonyBaduy @TinFoilAwards @1_TMF_ @Fornowago @NoPropagand @FUDyou2 @Catheri49917567 @RadioColor @tonymac5 @groin_hammer @WendyOrent @CyclopsSeesAll @doritmi @ScienceMonkey0 @Just4TheCause @zendogbreath @FormerAntivax @BruceFo43322941 @DK25769559 @BigBopp75348974 @provaxtexan @MarioMoney23 @bayouskeeter @handmadekathy @arcon_ryan @swedishchf @Redpanda74 @littleLishka @EntrepreneurFg @_mamadeb That’s partly why I shared this with our Shame. Many factors impacting whether you get sick or not. Social isolation can lower immune response to their beloved pHarmaceuticals making their jabs less “effective”, bizarrely saving lives. https://t.co/VOcWZenvAu

Oct 28, 2023 · 3,417 followers View post →
Stephen Duncan Nutrition
@sduncanhealth · X

@Pouldeau61 @BigGuy4U86 @taurusg333 @crabb_vicki @TinFoilAwards @AngryMouse23 @mcfunny @krebiozen @ShaneAKAProp @DaveBla81093404 @Kathmarval @AnnLove4All @Scary7Dr @TakethatCt @MsTrixter @khoombu @encyclopath @runhack @TheFrankmanMN @JRNave @TonyBaduy @1_TMF_ @Fornowago @NoPropagand @FUDyou2 @Catheri49917567 @RadioColor @tonymac5 @groin_hammer @WendyOrent @CyclopsSeesAll @doritmi @ScienceMonkey0 @Just4TheCause @zendogbreath @FormerAntivax @BruceFo43322941 @DK25769559 @BigBopp75348974 @provaxtexan @MarioMoney23 @bayouskeeter @handmadekathy @arcon_ryan @swedishchf @Redpanda74 @littleLishka @EntrepreneurFg @_mamadeb @SkepticalMutant Public health measures; stay at home live in fear and if you are an old vulnerable person don’t see your family. An example here of how these measures can negatively alter the bodies response to vaccination and also negative changes to health. https://t.co/VO

Oct 27, 2023 · 3,417 followers View post →
Amanda Rotella
@AMRotella · X

RT @JaimieKrems: Friendship/Health/COVID researchers--a question: Pressman found that lonely freshmen or those with fewer friends showed l…

Feb 2, 2023 · 2 shares · 814 followers View post →
Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis (OCEAN)
@OCEAN_OKState · X

RT @JaimieKrems: Friendship/Health/COVID researchers--a question: Pressman found that lonely freshmen or those with fewer friends showed l…

Feb 1, 2023 · 2 shares · 1,301 followers View post →
Jaimie Arona Krems
@JaimieKrems · X

Friendship/Health/COVID researchers--a question: Pressman found that lonely freshmen or those with fewer friends showed lower immune responses after flu vaccination (and reduced immunity). Anyone know if this has been explored wrt COVID-19 vaccinations? https://t.co/ucRLwSlV8E

Feb 1, 2023 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 4,942 followers View post →
Sean Mark, PhD
@Smark_phd · X

"Elevated levels of loneliness throughout the semester & small social networks were independently associated with poorer antibody response to the vaccine. Those with both high levels of loneliness & a small social network had the lowest antibody response." https://t.co/vnjafZrsmt

May 17, 2022 · 1,810 followers View post →