Alleviating Loneliness among Frail Older People – Findings from a Randomised Controlled Trial

Ollonqvist, Kirsi; Palkeinen, Hanna; Aaltonen, Tuula; Pohjolainen, Timo; Puukka, Pauli; Hinkka, Katariina; Pöntinen, Seppo

doi:10.1080/14623730.2008.9721760

Cited by 31 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The effect sizes in this group ranged from −0.79 to 0.40, with six studies reporting efficacy in reducing loneliness (Banks, Willoughby, & Banks, 2008; Chiang et al, 2009; McWhirter & Horan, 1996; Ollonqvist et al, 2008; Samarel, Tulman, & Fawcett, 2002; Williams et al, 2004). The remaining fourteen studies showed no change in loneliness as indicated by 95% confidence intervals that included zero.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three studies had intervention frequencies that varied among participants: Stewart et al (2009), due to the unpredictable nature of homeless youth; Petryshen et al (2001), because participants were offered a choice from about 200 group activities; and Morrow-Howell et al (1998), due to different level of needs and suicide risks of their sample. Two studies had interventions that were in effect continuously for a period of time and thus couldn’t be quantified into sessions: Jessen et al (1996), who placed a caged bird in participants’ rooms for 10 days; Ollonqvist et al (2008), who implemented an intervention that included three separate inpatient periods over eight months. …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 6 Other loneliness measure included: 1) 15 item Emotional/Social Loneliness Inventory (Vinconzi & Grabosky 1987) used in Stewart et al (2001); 2) 15 item short version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (DiTommaso, Brannen, & Best 2004) used in Yárnoz et al (2008); 3) 16 item Loneliness Scale (Asher et al 1984) used in Bauminger (2007) and Christian & D’Auria (2006); 4) 24 item Loneliness Scale (Asher & Wheeler 1985) used in Kolko et al (1990) and Allen-Kosal (2008); 5) 7 item loneliness scale (Paloutzian and Ellison 1982) used in Heller et al (1991); 6) Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (6 items on loneliness) used in Cox et al (2007); 7) Frequency of loneliness (OARS Social Resource Rating Scale) used in Morrow-Howell et al (1998); 8) Single question asking the participants if he/she feels lonely used in Rosen &Rosen (1982) and Ollonqvist et al (2008). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness

Masi

Chen

Hawkley

et al. 2010

Pers Soc Psychol Rev

1,519

1,312

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Social and demographic trends are placing an increasing number of adults at risk for loneliness, an established risk factor for physical and mental illness. The growing costs of loneliness have led to a number of loneliness reduction interventions. Qualitative reviews have identified four primary intervention strategies: 1) improving social skills, 2) enhancing social support, 3) increasing opportunities for social contact, and 4) addressing maladaptive social cognition. An integrative meta-analysis of loneliness reduction interventions was conducted to quantify the effects of each strategy and to examine the potential role of moderator variables. Results revealed that single group pre-post and non-randomized comparison studies yielded larger mean effect sizes relative to randomized comparison studies. Among studies that used the latter design, the most successful interventions addressed maladaptive social cognition. This is consistent with current theories regarding loneliness and its etiology. Theoretical and methodological issues associated with designing new loneliness reduction interventions are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness

Masi

Chen

Hawkley

et al. 2010

Pers Soc Psychol Rev

1,519

1,312

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Twenty three studies were participatory [13,51-56,58,60,61,63,65-70,73-77,81] and the remaining nine were non-participatory [57,59,62,64,71,72,78-80]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundTargeting social isolation in older people is a growing public health concern. The proportion of older people in society has increased in recent decades, and it is estimated that approximately 25% of the population will be aged 60 or above within the next 20 to 40 years. Social isolation is prevalent amongst older people and evidence indicates the detrimental effect that it can have on health and wellbeing. The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of interventions designed to alleviate social isolation and loneliness in older people.MethodsRelevant electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, ASSIA, IBSS, PsycINFO, PubMed, DARE, Social Care Online, the Cochrane Library and CINAHL) were systematically searched using an extensive search strategy, for randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies published in English before May 2009. Additional articles were identified through citation tracking. Studies were included if they related to older people, if the intervention aimed to alleviate social isolation and loneliness, if intervention participants were compared against inactive controls and, if treatment effects were reported. Two independent reviewers extracted data using a standardised form. Narrative synthesis and vote-counting methods were used to summarise and interpret study data.ResultsThirty two studies were included in the review. There was evidence of substantial heterogeneity in the interventions delivered and the overall quality of included studies indicated a medium to high risk of bias. Across the three domains of social, mental and physical health, 79% of group-based interventions and 55% of one-to-one interventions reported at least one improved participant outcome. Over 80% of participatory interventions produced beneficial effects across the same domains, compared with 44% of those categorised as non-participatory. Of interventions categorised as having a theoretical basis, 87% reported beneficial effects across the three domains compared with 59% of interventions with no evident theoretical foundation. Regarding intervention type, 86% of those providing activities and 80% of those providing support resulted in improved participant outcomes, compared with 60% of home visiting and 25% of internet training interventions. Fifty eight percent of interventions that explicitly targeted socially isolated or lonely older people reported positive outcomes, compared with 80% of studies with no explicit targeting.ConclusionsMore, well-conducted studies of the effectiveness of social interventions for alleviating social isolation are needed to improve the evidence base. However, it appeared that common characteristics of effective interventions were those developed within the context of a theoretical basis, and those offering social activity and/or support within a group format. Interventions in which older people are active participants also appeared more likely to be effective. Future interventions incorporating all of these characteristics may therefore be more successful in...

show abstract

“…Moreover, research on frail older people, in particular, is also limited, both regarding loneliness in relation to health aspects such as HRQoL and health complaints, as well as loneliness in relation to health care consumption. Previous research has shown that frail older people who are lonely, have a poorer subjective health and higher risk of depression compared to those peers who are not lonely (14). Molloy et al (15) found that greater loneliness was independently associated with acute hospital admissions, but there was no association between planned inpatient admissions and loneliness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Loneliness and health care consumption among older people

Taube

Kristensson

Sandberg

et al. 2014

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Few studies have investigated loneliness in relation to health care consumption among frail older people. The aim of this study was to examine loneliness, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and health complaints in relation to health care consumption of in- and outpatient care among frail older people living at home. The study, with a cross-sectional design, comprised a sample of 153 respondents aged from 65 years (mean age 81.5 years) or older, who lived at home and were frail. Data was collected utilising structured interviews in the respondent's home assessing demographic data, loneliness, HRQoL and health complaints. Patient administrative registers were used to collect data on health care consumption. Loneliness was the dependent variable in the majority of the analyses and dichotomised. For group comparisons Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Chi-square test were used. The results showed that 60% of the respondents had experienced loneliness during the previous year, at least occasionally. The study identified that lonely respondents had a lower HRQoL (p = 0.022), with a higher total number of reported health complaints (p = 0.001), and used more outpatient services including more acute visits at the emergency department, compared to not lonely respondents (p = 0.026). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that a depressed mood was independently associated to total use of outpatient care (B = 7.4, p < 0.001). Therefore, it might not be loneliness, per se, that is the reason for seeking health care. However, reasons for using health care services are difficult to determine due to the complex situation for the frail older person. To avoid emergency department visits and to benefit the well-being of the frail older person, interventions targeting the complex health situation, including loneliness, are suggested.

show abstract

Alleviating Loneliness among Frail Older People – Findings from a Randomised Controlled Trial

Cited by 31 publications

References 39 publications

A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness

A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness

Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review

Loneliness and health care consumption among older people

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About