Impact of social prescribing to address loneliness: A mixed methods evaluation of a national social prescribing programme

Foster, Alexis; Thompson, Jill; Holding, Eleanor; Ariss, Steven; Mukuria, Clara; Jacques, Richard; Akparido, Robert; Haywood, Annette

doi:10.1111/hsc.13200

Cited by 55 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…This highlights the importance of developing interventions that promote involvement in the community. Social prescribing has been shown to reduce loneliness in adults 38,39 and may be effective in increasing community engagement for young people. Alternatively, interventions at the community level should focus on developing more inclusive communities.…”

Section: What This Study Addsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness in young people: A multilevel exploration of social ecological influences and geographic variation

Marquez¹,

Goodfellow²,

Hardoon³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Loneliness is a growing public health concern, yet little is known about loneliness in young people. The current study aimed to identify social ecological factors related to loneliness and examine the extent to which geographic region accounts for differences in loneliness.Methods: The data come from a cross-sectional sample of 6503 young people living in the United Kingdom. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-item scale. Bivariate analyses were used to test associations between each predictor and loneliness. Multilevel models were used to identify key social ecological factors related to loneliness, and the extent to which loneliness varied across geographic regions. Results: Socio-demographic, social, health and wellbeing, and community factors were found to be associated with loneliness. Geographic region accounted for 5-8% of the variation in loneliness. The effect of gender, sexual orientation, and minority ethnic background on loneliness differed across geographic regions. Conclusions: This is the first study to highlight modifiable social and community factors related to youth loneliness, and individual vulnerabilities, such as poor mental wellbeing. Results related to geographic differences suggest that local-level initiatives may be most appropriate in tackling loneliness, rather than wider, less contextualized national efforts.

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Section: What This Study Addsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness in young people: A multilevel exploration of social ecological influences and geographic variation

Marquez¹,

Goodfellow²,

Hardoon³

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Social contact/loneliness is improved following social prescribing intervention. 4 2. Social contact/loneliness is worse in women than men.…”

Section: Construct Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Social contact/loneliness is worse in women than men. 4 3. Perceived loneliness is worse in younger people.…”

Section: Construct Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 3 Social prescribing can have a beneficial impact on loneliness. 4 Loneliness is defined as the unpleasant experience that occurs when a person's network of social relations is deficient in some important way, either quantitatively or qualitatively. 5 It can affect all ages and may be classified in terms of social, emotional and existential loneliness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 2 3 Social prescribing can have a beneficial impact on loneliness. 4 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of social contact and loneliness measures with validation in social prescribing

Benson

Seers

Webb³

et al. 2021

BMJ Open Qual

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AimsThis paper describes two patient-reported measures of social contact and loneliness, which are closely related concepts. The first measure (R-Outcomes Social Contact measure) was developed from scratch, based on customer needs and literature review. It covers emotional and social aspects using positive terms. The second measure (R-Outcomes Loneliness measure) is adapted from the GSS Loneliness Harmonised Standard. Both measures are patient-reported outcome measures, based on patients’ own perception of how they feel.MethodThis development started in 2016 in response to customers’ requests to measure social contact/loneliness for patients in social prescribing projects.Both measures are compared with three other loneliness measures (the GSS Loneliness Harmonised Standard, De Jong Gierveld and Campaign to End Loneliness). Both measures are short (36 and 21 words, respectively). Mean improvement is reported as a positive number on a 0–100 scale (where high is good).We tested the psychometric performance and construct validity of the R-Outcomes Social Contact measure using secondary analysis of anonymised data collected before and after social prescribing interventions in one part of Southern England.ResultsIn the validation study, 728 responses, collected during 2019–2020, were analysed. 90% were over 70 years old and 62% women. Cronbach’s α=0.76, which suggests that it is appropriate to use a single summary score. Mean Social Contact scores before and after social prescribing intervention were 59.9 (before) and 66.7 (after, p<0.001).Exploratory factor analysis shows that measures for social contact, health status, health confidence, patient experience, personal well-being, medication adherence and social determinants of health are correlated but distinct factors. Construct validation shows that the results are consistent with nine hypotheses, based on the loneliness literature.ConclusionThe R-Outcomes Social Contact measure has good psychometric and construct validation results in a population referred to social prescribing. It is complementary to other R-Outcomes measures.

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An evaluation of the role of social identity processes for enhancing health outcomes within UK‐based social prescribing initiatives designed to increase social connection and reduce loneliness: A systematic review

Staras,

Wakefield,

McDermott

et al. 2024

Community & Applied Soc Psy

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The UK's National Health Service has introduced Social Prescribing initiatives to tackle loneliness and ill‐health, yet it lacks a theoretical foundation and evidence base for Social Prescribing's effectiveness. Recent research applies the Social Identity Approach to Health (SIAH) to explain Social Prescribing's health benefits, emphasising how social connection unlocks health‐enhancing psychological mechanisms. This systematic review therefore aims to assess UK‐based Social Prescribing programmes designed to boost social connection and alleviate loneliness, examining programme efficacy and the role of SIAH processes in health outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, a narrative synthesis of articles published from May 5, 2006 (when social prescribing was first introduced in the NHS), to April 8, 2024, was conducted, and their quality assessed using CONSORT‐SPI (2018). Of these programmes, 10 employed a mixed‐methods design, 8 qualitative and 1 quantitative service evaluation, totalling 3,298 participants. Results indicate that Social Prescribing's psychological value lies in quality rather than quantity of social connections, with meaningful connections fostering shared identity, perceived support and self‐efficacy, the latter of which sustains social engagement post‐programme. The SIAH was a useful tool for mapping mixed‐methods findings onto a common theoretical framework to highlight these key proponents. Overall, this review underscores the importance of SIAH‐informed Social Prescribing interventions in enhancing social connectedness, reducing loneliness, and promoting overall health. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

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Impact of social prescribing to address loneliness: A mixed methods evaluation of a national social prescribing programme

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 55 publications

References 28 publications

Loneliness in young people: A multilevel exploration of social ecological influences and geographic variation

Loneliness in young people: A multilevel exploration of social ecological influences and geographic variation

Development of social contact and loneliness measures with validation in social prescribing

An evaluation of the role of social identity processes for enhancing health outcomes within UK‐based social prescribing initiatives designed to increase social connection and reduce loneliness: A systematic review

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