Stalking Victims Face Sharply Higher Heart Disease Risk
Harvard Study Links Harassment to Serious Cardiovascular Issues
Women who experience stalking or seek restraining orders face a significantly elevated risk of developing heart conditions later in life, according to groundbreaking research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Unseen Dangers Revealed
The study, published in the journal Circulation, reveals a stark connection between prolonged harassment and cardiovascular health. Victims of stalking exhibited a 41% greater likelihood of developing heart disease compared to those who had not endured such experiences.
The risk escalates for those who have taken legal action. Women who obtained restraining orders were found to be 70% more prone to heart disease. The most severe impact was observed in individuals who had both been stalked and secured a restraining order, doubling their risk compared to women with no such history.
Psychological Distress Fuels Physical Ailments
“Stalking is often seen as a form of violence that does not involve physical contact, which may make it seem less serious,” stated lead researcher Rebecca Lawn, a research associate in epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “However, our findings suggest stalking should not be minimized.”
Researchers attribute this link to the severe psychological distress caused by constant menace and threats. This ongoing stress can activate the body’s persistent “fight or flight” response, leading to disruptions in heart function, blood pressure regulation, and other physiological systems.
Expert Perspective on Long-Term Stress
“Perhaps because it is our nature to re-think about things that happen to us, making us experience the situation over and over.”
—Dr. Harmony Reynolds, Director of the Sarah Ross Soter Center for Women’s Cardiovascular Research at NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Dr. Harmony Reynolds, who was not involved in the study but chairs the American Heart Association’s Clinical Cardiology & Stroke Women’s Health Science Committee, emphasized the enduring impact of such stress. She noted that social support systems, whether from family, friends, or professionals, can help mitigate these effects.
It is already established that victims of intimate partner violence experience a 30% higher risk of heart disease. Dr. Reynolds commented that this new research highlights how the feeling of unsafety profoundly affects physical well-being over time.
The study followed over 66,000 women, with nearly 7,700 reporting stalking and about 3,700 having obtained restraining orders. The findings underscore that a variety of stressful life events, including childhood adversity and financial strain, are known contributors to cardiovascular disease.
For more information on stress and heart health, the Cleveland Clinic offers resources on the topic.
