Perceived social support, loneliness, and later life telomere length following wartime captivity.

This is the first study to empirically demonstrate that loneliness and lack of perceived social support in early adulthood may be associated with shorter TL during transition to old age in a population that has endured extreme stress. Although the study design precludes causal inferences, several psychobiological mechanisms may explain the findings. The potential clinical significance of social deficits for longevity and heath in related populations is therefore addressed, and an agenda for future investigations is suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).