Broese, J. (Johanna) (2014) The challenge of approaching loneliness. Determinants of social and emotional loneliness and the approach of nurses towards loneliness problems among community-dwelling elderly. thesis, Medicine.
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Abstract
Introduction Loneliness has been conceptualized as a bi-dimensional construct and previous studies showed that social and emotional loneliness have different potential causes and risk factors. Only few studies have examined determinants of the dimensions separately. Also, little is known about how health caregivers approach lonely elderly. This study has examined determinants of social and emotional loneliness and explored the approach of nurses towards loneliness problems among community-dwelling elderly. Methods In this cross-sectional study data of the Functional decline in Transition (FIT) study, which investigated the effectiveness of proactive care for community-dwelling elderly on physical function, were used. Demographic, health-related, psychological and social characteristics and loneliness scores of elderly (n=417) were collected for backward multivariable linear regression analysis. All documentation of home visits by a nurse, of older people with loneliness score ≥3 on the De Jong Gierveld scale (n=294) was collected. Frequencies and types of interventions for loneliness and reasons for no intervention were investigated. Results Determinants of social loneliness were poor frequency of seeing people, income discomfort, not receiving informal care and poor chances of going on trips. Determinants of emotional loneliness were poor frequency of seeing people, marital status, income discomfort, depressive symptoms, poor chances of going on trips and hearing problems. Within the group of loneliness score≥3, in 59% (174/294) there was mention of loneliness. In 32% (94/294) an intervention was initiated, most often social activities (30%) and support/home visit by a nurse (25%). In 44% (35/80) reason for no intervention was that the elderly did not feel lonely or did not consider it a problem. Conclusion This study indicates that social and emotional loneliness have many common determinants. Increasing social contacts seems to be beneficial for both dimensions. This questions the value of approaching loneliness bi-dimensionally in clinical practice. Future prospective research is needed to investigate risk factors for and consequences of social and emotional loneliness. Nurses frequently do not address loneliness problems among elderly. Most nurses seem to be aware, though, of different pathways leading to loneliness. Elderly often reject interventions. Qualitative research is needed to investigate which factors limit health caregivers to initiate interventions and which factors limit elderly to accept interventions for loneliness problems.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Nijholt, I. |
| Supervisor name: | Suijker, J. and Rijn, M. van and Moll Van Charante, E. and AMC Huisartsgeneeskunde |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 10:59 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 10:59 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1948 |
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