Social support moderates suicidal ideation among Chinese nursing home residents with limited activities of daily living and loneliness

Social support in older adults: Validation and norm values of a brief form of the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (F-SozU K-6)

BACKGROUND

Social relations are crucial for maintaining physical and mental health across the life span. As social roles, networks and needs change with age a valid assessment of social support in older adults and age-specific norms are necessary. The present work aims to [1) assess the level of social support in individuals > 60 years of the general German population, [2) evaluate the brief six-item form of the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (F-SozU K-6) in this age group and to [3) provide age-specific norm values.

METHODS

We analyze data of N = 706 people representative for the German population collected in 2021. To assess social support, we used the F-SozU K-6. We tested for selectivity, item difficulty, internal consistency, construct and factor validity, as well as factorial invariance. Additionally, we assessed correlations and associations with depression, loneliness, and sociodemographic factors. Furthermore, we reported norm values for respondents > 60 years.

RESULTS

Participants > 60 years reported a mean level of 23.97 (SD = 4.82) of social support. Results of the CFA confirmed a very good model fit. Measurement invariance across sex and age was shown. Associations with ADS and LS-S supported construct validity. Multiple regression analysis showed that female sex, increasing age, having a partner, and a higher equivalized household income were associated with higher levels of social support.

CONCLUSION

The F-SozU K-6 is a reliable and economical tool to assess perceived social support in older adults. Norm values for individual > 60 years are provided.

Association of loneliness with suicide risk and depression in individuals with schizophrenia: moderating effects of self-esteem and perceived support from families and friends

Loneliness is prevalent among individuals with mental illnesses. This cross-sectional survey study examined the moderating effects of self-esteem and perceived support from families and friends on the association of loneliness with suicide risk and depression in individuals with schizophrenia. In total, 300 participants (267 with schizophrenia and 33 with schizoaffective disorder) completed the University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale (Version 3); suicide module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; Family and Friend Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve Index; and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Moderation analysis was performed to examine the moderating effects of self-esteem and perceived support from families and friends on the association of loneliness with suicide risk and depression. The results found that self-esteem was significantly associated with a reduced magnitude of depression in participants with loneliness. In addition, perceived support from friends was significantly associated with a reduced magnitude of suicide risk in participants with loneliness. Our findings indicate the importance of intervention programs that strengthen support from friends and self-esteem in reducing suicide risk and depression among lonely individuals with schizophrenia.

Relationship Between Physical Symptoms and Loneliness in Patients with Heart Failure: The Serial Mediating Roles of Activities of Daily Living and Social Isolation

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the multiple mediation effects of activities of daily living and social isolation on the relationship between physical symptoms and loneliness in patients with heart failure.

DESIGN

We adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 303 patients with heart failure were recruited at 2 general hospitals in China from November 2019 to December 2020.

METHODS

Information on loneliness was assessed using the Loneliness Scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (version 3), physical symptoms were evaluated using the Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure, the Activity of Daily Living Scale was used to evaluate activities of daily living, the Lubben Social Network Scale was used to measure social isolation. The serial mediation model was examined using PROCESS macro in SPSS.

RESULTS

Of the 303 patients, 66.7% experienced mild loneliness and 21.8% experienced moderate or severe loneliness. Multiple mediation analysis showed that physical symptoms had a direct effect on loneliness (effect = 0.210; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.099-0.320) and the link between physical symptoms and loneliness through 3 indirect pathways: (1) activities of daily living (effect = 0.043; 95% CI 0.006‒0.086), accounting for 20.48% of the total effect; (2) social isolation (effect = 0.060; 95% CI 0.005‒0.120), accounting for 28.57% of the total effect; and (3) activities of daily living and social isolation in series (effect = 0.049; 95% CI 0.024‒0.081), accounting for 23.33% of the total effect. The total mediating effect was 72.38%.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Activities of daily living and social isolation sequentially mediated the relationship between physical symptoms and loneliness in patients with heart failure. Therefore, attention to reducing activities of daily living limitations and social isolation may be beneficial to reducing loneliness, apart from alleviating physical symptoms.

Psychometric properties of the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ), a new measure of perceived social support among older adults

OBJECTIVE

Based on literature and available questionnaires, the present study aimed at creating and validating the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ): a 4-item scale assessing the perceived social support in older adults. Normative scores were also computed.

METHODS

Three hundred and two participants (mean age 87.68) selected from ongoing population-based studies completed a phone interview. Among these, 247 completed a second interview 4 months later allowing assessing the questionnaire fidelity over time.

RESULTS

The factor analysis evidenced two dimensions: availability of social support and satisfaction with it. Both dimensions had a satisfactory internal consistency but weak intraclass correlation coefficient. Univariate analyses revealed that age, number of calls per week and living environment marginally associated with the availability score. The satisfaction score was associated with perceived health status, sadness, depressive mood, feeling of loneliness, anxiety, and the perception of social support during the pandemic context. The norms computed were stratified on age.

CONCLUSIONS

The PSSQ is a short and easy-to-administer tool allowing assessing perceived social support in older population. Despite a weak fidelity that could actually be explained by changes in perceived social support over time, the questionnaire revealed good psychometric qualities and validity.