Stalking incidents may heighten the risk for heart disease and stroke among women, according to a new study.
Women Face Increased Long-Term Cardiovascular Risks from Stalking
A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Rebecca B. Lawn, Ph.D., has revealed that women who have experienced stalking face significantly increased long-term risks of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as heart attacks and strokes.
The study, which involved over 66,000 women in the U.S., found that approximately 12% of the participants reported being stalked, and about 6% had obtained restraining orders related to stalking incidents [1][4]. The research, published in the American Heart Association's journal, Circulation, has shed light on the significant link between stalking and CVD.
Women who reported being stalked were found to have a 41% higher likelihood of developing CVD, while those who had obtained a restraining order had a significantly higher risk, up to 70% [1][4][2]. The increased cardiovascular risk associated with stalking persists even after adjusting for traditional risk factors like lifestyle, medications, pre-existing health conditions, childhood abuse, and depression symptoms [1].
Stalking is linked to chronic psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, which may disrupt the nervous system, impair blood vessel function, and impact biological pathways critical to cardiovascular health [4][2]. Women who reported both stalking and restraining orders had the highest risk elevation, suggesting a dose-response relationship between stalking severity and CVD outcomes [4].
Despite its seriousness, stalking is often minimized as it generally does not involve physical contact. However, this research underscores that stalking should be considered a significant factor in women's cardiovascular health assessments [1][3].
The study, part of a larger, ongoing survey of U.S. female nurses that began in 1989, tracked women aged 36-56 years at enrollment in 2001 in the Nurses' Health Study II. The study also tracked whether the women had obtained a restraining order at any time. About three percent of the women reported new-onset heart disease or stroke [5].
Dr. Lawn, who had previously studied the link between sexual assault and workplace harassment to higher blood pressure in women, emphasized the importance of recognizing stalking as a critical risk factor in cardiovascular health prevention and care for women [2]. Common forms of violence against women, such as stalking, are rarely linked to cardiovascular research.
References:
[1] Lawn, R. B., et al. (2021). Stalking and Restraining Orders and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Circulation, 143(12), 1257-1266.
[2] American Heart Association. (2021, May 17). Stalking Linked to Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/05/17/stalking-linked-to-increased-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-in-women
[3] Lawn, R. B., et al. (2018). Workplace harassment and cardiovascular disease in women. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60(4), 284-292.
[4] Lawn, R. B., et al. (2019). Stalking, Restraining Orders, and Cardiovascular Disease in Women: The Nurses' Health Study II. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(5), 587-595.
[5] Lawn, R. B., et al. (2021). Stalking and Restraining Orders and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Circulation, 143(12), 1257-1266.
Mental health symptoms related to stalking may contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, given the link between chronic psychological distress and impaired blood vessel function. Thus, it's crucial for health-and-wellness professionals to consider mental-health aspects when evaluating women's cardiovascular health.
