Monday, August 11, 2025

 

Women who have been stalked may have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke



Women who experienced being stalked or who obtained restraining orders were more likely to develop heart disease and stroke than women who had not faced these events, finds a new study in the Circulation journal



American Heart Association

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Research Highlights:

  • Women who reported being stalked by a current/former partner or other persons were more likely to develop heart disease and stroke during 20 years of follow-up than those who did not report those events.

  • Among women who obtained a restraining order for protection, their risk of developing cardiovascular disease was significantly higher than women who had not requested a restraining order.

  • The link between stalking and cardiovascular disease may be due to psychological distress, which may disrupt the nervous system, impair proper blood vessel function and negatively affect other biological mechanisms, the researchers said.

DALLAS, Aug. 11, 2025 — Women who reported having been stalked or obtained a restraining order were each more likely to experience a heart attack and/or stroke in later years compared to those who did not, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation.

“Although violence against women is common, and evidence has linked violence with consequences for women’s later heart health, it is still not widely recognized or routinely considered by health care professionals as a potential cardiovascular risk factor among women,” said study author Rebecca B. Lawn, Ph.D., a research associate in epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston and at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

“We felt it was essential to look beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors in women and strengthen our understanding of the relationship between underexplored types of violence and heart health.”

About 1 in 3 women have been stalked at some point in their lives, according to data on intimate partner violence collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study notes that common forms of violence against women, such as stalking, are rarely discussed in cardiovascular research. Lawn’s previous research linked sexual assault and workplace harassment to higher blood pressure in women. Other studies report that people with restraining orders are more likely to experience poorer health.

Researchers analyzed stalking, restraining orders, and heart disease or stroke development among participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II, from 2001 to 2021. The analysis includes data for more than 66,000 women, average age 46 years in 2001. These women did not have cardiovascular disease in 2001, when they first shared whether they had experienced stalking or stalking harassment behaviors, such as receiving unsolicited correspondence, that made them fearful. The study also asked if participants had “ever taken out” a restraining order, which is a legal document that seeks to limit contact between a victim and perpetrator. Obtaining a restraining order was considered a sign of severe violence.

The analysis found:

  • Overall, nearly 12% of the women in the study reported that they had been stalked, while nearly 6% of them said they had obtained a restraining order.
  • About 3% of all women studied reported new-onset heart disease or stroke during the 20 years of the study.
  • Compared to women who had not been stalked, women who reported experiencing stalking were 41% more likely to have cardiovascular disease.
  • Women who had obtained a restraining order were 70% more likely to report cardiovascular disease versus those who had not.
  • Similarly, women whose medical records confirmed heart attacks or strokes were more likely to have reported being stalked or obtaining a restraining order.
  • The increased risks for heart attack and stroke associated with stalking and restraining orders remained despite the existence of other self-reported cardiovascular risk factors, such as health and lifestyle behaviors, medications, health conditions, childhood abuse and symptoms of depression.

“Stalking is often seen as a form of violence that does not involve physical contact, which may make it seem less serious,” Lawn said. “However, our findings suggest stalking should not be minimized. Stalking can be chronic, and women often report making significant changes in response such as moving.”

Harmony R. Reynolds, M.D., FAHA, immediate past  chair of the American Heart Association’s Clinical Cardiology & Stroke Women’s Health Science Committee, said she was surprised at the strong association this study found between stalking and cardiovascular disease.

“A variety of stressful life experiences are known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including adverse childhood experiences, financial stressors, grief and other experiences,” Reynolds said. “People subjected to intimate partner violence face about a 30% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next few years compared to others. While this study shows a more moderate risk, given the long-time frame, it highlights how feeling unsafe can affect the body, in addition to the mind.”

Reynolds, the Joel and Joan Smilow Professor of Cardiology and Director of the Sarah Ross Soter Center for Women’s Cardiovascular Research at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, was not involved in this research, and noted that the effects of stress can be long-lasting. “Perhaps because it is our nature to re-think about things that happen to us, making us experience the situation over and over. However, social support may mitigate the effects of stress. It’s helpful to have people you can trust to talk with, whether they are family, friends, people in the community or professionals,” she said.

Study authors note that the link between stalking and cardiovascular disease may be due to  psychological distress, which may disrupt the nervous system, proper blood vessel function and other biological processes; however, these potential mechanisms were not examined in detail in this study.

Lawn said more research, as well as training for health care professionals, is needed to understand the link between stalking or obtaining a restraining order and women’s cardiovascular health.

“We also need to increase awareness about the potential health harms of experiencing violence and provide women with help and resources,” she said.

Among the study’s limitations are that participants—U.S. registered nurses—were mostly non-Hispanic white women. The findings may not apply to other populations or groups of people. The study notes that previous research indicated that, “violence history, including stalking, is more common among women from minority racial/ethnic backgrounds and those with low income.” In addition, the study relied on participants self-reporting their history of experiencing stalking and restraining orders.

Study Background:

  • The study included 66,270 U.S. women ages 36-56 years at enrollment in 2001 in the Nurses’ Health Study II, part of a larger, ongoing survey of U.S. female nurses that began in 1989.
  • Self-reported data on stalking was collected in 2001. Information about heart attacks and strokes was self-reported and verified with medical records.
  • The study used a prospective analysis, meaning researchers started with women who had never had a heart attack or stroke when asked about stalking or obtaining a restraining order. They then followed these women for more than 20 years to see if they reported experiencing stalking or obtaining a restraining order and were more likely to develop a heart attack or stroke compared to women who did not report these experiences.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript.

Studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.

Additional Resources:

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

Journal

Circulation

DOI

10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.073592 

Article Title

Experiences of Stalking and Obtaining a Restraining Order Are Associated With Onset of Cardiovascular Events in Women: A Prospective Analysis in the Nurses’ Health Study II


Stalking, obtaining restraining order linked with increased cardiovascular disease risk in women



Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

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Key points:

  • In a 20-year study, women with experience being stalked had a 41% higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than women without this experience. Women with experience obtaining a restraining order—typically indicative of severe violence—had a 70% higher risk of CVD than women without that experience.

  • Prior studies have not looked at the relationship between women’s experiences with stalking and CVD outcomes, and few have investigated the link between physical health outcomes and psychological violence commonly faced by women.

  • According to the researchers, the findings highlight the need to consider women’s experiences with violence as legitimate health determinants.

Boston, MA—Women with experience being stalked and/or who have experience obtaining a restraining order were significantly more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) than women without these experiences, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“To many people, stalking doesn’t seem to be such a serious experience, as it often does not involve physical contact. But stalking has profound psychological consequences that can have physical implications,” said senior author Karestan Koenen, professor of psychiatric epidemiology. “Our study highlights that these preventable, common, non-contact forms of violence against women are health hazards and need to be considered as such, just like we consider smoking or poor diet.”

The study will be published August 11 in Circulation.

While previous research has established violence as a risk factor for CVD, most of these studies have focused on physical forms of violence. Very few have investigated the link between physical health outcomes and psychological violence commonly faced by women, including stalking, and none to date have specifically examined the link between CVD and stalking. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that about one in three women have been stalked at some point in their lives, most often by an intimate partner or an acquaintance.

The researchers followed the CVD outcomes of a group of 66,270 women, ages 36-56, enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II between 2001 and 2021. Participants who reported any incidences of CVD, defined as heart attack or stroke, were excluded. The results showed 7,721 (11.7%) reported experience with stalking, and 3,686 (5.6%) reported experience with obtaining a restraining order. By the end of the study period, 1,879 of the women (2.8%) reported incidence of CVD. When estimating the impact of stalking and/or restraining order history on CVD risk, the researchers controlled for other health factors, such as parental CVD history.

The study found that the risk of CVD was 41% higher in women who experienced stalking and 70% higher in women with experience obtaining a restraining order, compared to women without these experiences. The researchers also observed a dose-response relationship whereby women who reported both an experience with stalking and an experience obtaining a restraining order had the highest elevated risk of CVD.

The link between stalking and cardiovascular disease may be due to psychological distress, which may disrupt the nervous system, impair proper blood vessel function, and negatively affect other biological mechanisms, the authors noted.

“Our findings indicate that, to better mitigate women’s risk of CVD, more attention needs to be paid to their experiences of violence,” Koenen said. “In health care settings, we need to improve screening for stalking and other forms of violence and provide resources for women to protect themselves. And zooming out further, on a broad public health level, we need to do better in addressing and preventing the root causes of violence against women.”

Corresponding author Rebecca Lawn led the study while a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Chan School. Other Harvard Chan authors included Audrey Murchland, Camille Marquez, and Laura Kubzansky.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants U01CA176726, K24HL123565, K23HL159293), the National Institute of Mental Health (grant R01 MH101269) the National Institute on Aging (grant F31AG080869), and the Broad Trauma Initiative at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

“Experiences of stalking and obtaining a restraining order are associated with onset of cardiovascular events in women: a prospective analysis in the Nurses' Health Study II,” Rebecca B. Lawn, Audrey R. Murchland, Rebecca C. Thurston, Camille Marquez, Karen Jakubowski, Laura Sampson, Jennifer A. Sumner, Laura D. Kubzansky, Karestan C. Koenen, Circulation, August 11, 2025, doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.073592 

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Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is a community of innovative scientists, practitioners, educators, and students dedicated to improving health and advancing equity so all people can thrive. We research the many factors influencing health and collaborate widely to translate those insights into policies, programs, and practices that prevent disease and promote well-being for people around the world. We also educate thousands of public health leaders a year through our degree programs, postdoctoral training, fellowships, and continuing education courses. Founded in 1913 as America’s first professional training program in public health, the School continues to have an extraordinary impact in fields ranging from infectious disease to environmental justice to health systems and beyond.

Journal

Circulation

DOI

10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.073592 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Experiences of stalking and obtaining a restraining order are associated with onset of cardiovascular events in women: a prospective analysis in the Nurses' Health Study II

Article Publication Date

11-Aug-2025


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