Guidelines for evaluating and reporting social isolation and loneliness interventions

Given the unpleasant nature of social isolation and loneliness (SIL) and their negative effects on health and wellbeing, interventions are needed. However, persistent issues in the design, evaluation, and reporting of SIL interventions preclude conclusive evidence and commentary on the effectiveness of SIL interventions. Here, we propose guidelines for evaluating SIL interventions, firstly by operationalising them into two categories: (1) interventions aiming to reduce SIL as a primary outcome and (2) interventions aiming to improve non-SIL outcomes in the lives of individuals experiencing SIL. Secondly, we evaluate instruments for measuring SIL and research designs for studying intervention effectiveness. Thirdly, guidelines for reporting information about the intervention, study design, results, and discussion in SIL intervention studies are presented. These guidelines will help researchers to better and more consistently report on SIL interventions and improve comparability of SIL interventions, ultimately contributing to the improvement of interventions and to the mitigation of SIL.

[Social, emotional and existential loneliness among nursing home residents with somatic problems]

Relatively little is known about loneliness in nursing homes. The aim of this study is to gain insight in the prevalence of social, emotional and existential loneliness among nursing home residents and in the relationship between loneliness and participation in activities and having contacts. Data is collected among nursing home residents in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands (N = 101; age range = 42 to 103 years; median = 83 years; 71% female). Social, emotional and existential loneliness, personal characteristics and participation in activities and having contacts are measured. Prevalence of loneliness is calculated. Regression analyses are performed to study the relationship between loneliness and personal characteristics, participation in activities and having contacts. The majority of respondents experiences social, emotional and/or existential loneliness. A longer duration of stay in the nursing home and participating in exercise activities are related to a lower extent of social loneliness but not emotional or existential loneliness. Organised activities typically aim at social loneliness, but not emotional and existential loneliness, even though these forms of loneliness occur often in nursing homes.

Competencies in European gerontological higher education. An explorative study on core elements

This study explores whether there is a common core of competencies in European gerontology education programs by doing a cross-comparison of five undergraduate-level programs. Content analysis of competency profile documents at the five European educational programs were studied using thematic analysis. Study results document that there indeed is a common core of elements in gerontological educational programs. Three clusters which included a total of 15 categories were identified. The clusters were labeled professional attitude, communication skills, and service provision. Clusters and categories varied across the five programs. One program in particular included fewer clusters and categories. This may reflect a difference in focus in the program but could also reflect a less elaborately formulated competency profile document. The results of this study show that, at least at the level of formulating competencies, there is a strong agreement on the major components that are important for a gerontologist at the undergraduate level.

Coping with loneliness: what do older adults suggest?

OBJECTIVES

A limited amount of information is available on how older adults cope with loneliness. Two ways of coping are distinguished here, i.e., active coping by improving relationships and regulative coping by lowering expectations about relationships. We explore how often older adults suggest these options to their lonely peers in various situations and to what extent individual resources influence their suggestions.

METHOD

After introducing them to four vignettes of lonely individuals, discriminating with regard to age, partner status, and health, 1187 respondents aged 62-100 from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were asked whether this loneliness can be alleviated by using various ways of coping.

RESULTS

In general, both ways of coping were often suggested. However, regression analyses revealed that active coping was suggested less often to people who are older, in poor health, or lonely and by older adults who were employed in midlife and have high self-esteem. Regulative coping was suggested more often to people who are older and by older adults with a low educational level and with low mastery.

CONCLUSIONS

Coping with loneliness by actively removing the stressor is less often seen as an option for and by the people who could benefit most from it. This underlines the difficulty of combating loneliness.