Social isolation among older veterans: findings from the National Health and Aging Trends Study

Suntai, Zainab; White, Bethany

doi:10.1080/13607863.2021.1942434

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…A study conducted in London (2017) showed that older adults living with a spouse or partner feel less lonely than single individuals [30]. The present results are consistent with the results of previous studies [15,31]. Older married adults typically exchange various forms of support with their spouses.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Prevalence and related factors of social isolation in older Iranian adults: a community-based study

Eslami¹,

Khajeh²,

Khosravi³

et al. 2022

fmpcr

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Background. Social isolation is a common and serious health issue in the older community-dwelling adults that leads to negative consequences such as suicidal thoughts, psychological distress, as well as a decline in welfare, health and quality of life.Objectives. This study aimed to determined the prevalence of social isolation and related factors in older Iranian adults. Material and methods. This cross-sectional study was performed on 290 older community-dwelling Iranian adults using a multistage sampling method in Shahroud, Iran. Social isolation was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale-18 (LSNS-18) with a score higher than 36. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate logistic regression). The significance level was set at 0.05. Results. The prevalence of social isolation was 57.9%. Marriage history (married or deceased spouse -divorced), higher education and living arrangements (living with a spouse or with a spouse and children) were factors associated with lower social isolation; however, social isolation was higher in older adults with two or more children (p = 0.03). Conclusions. A high percentage of older Iranian adults suffer from social isolation. It is suggested that older adults not live alone, get married and have academic education as much as possible, and it is necessary to take extensive measures to reduce this social issue.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Prevalence and related factors of social isolation in older Iranian adults: a community-based study

Eslami¹,

Khajeh²,

Khosravi³

et al. 2022

fmpcr

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“… 38 Social support is also important for maintaining resiliency – particularly for individuals living with chronic diseases and for adopting healthy behaviors. 39 With the prevalence of social isolation among Veterans, 40 , 41 increasing tele-WH opportunities post-pandemic may be crucial for Veterans who only have virtual means of socializing and connecting with peers. Doing so may help advance equity in opportunities to reduce loneliness, facilitate meaningful connection, and encourage Veterans to regularly engage in activities designed to promote well-being.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promoting Whole Health and Well-Being at Home: Veteran and Provider Perspectives on the Impact of Tele-Whole Health Services

Khanna

Dryden

Bolton

et al. 2022

Glob Adv Health Med

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Background The Veterans Health Administration (VA) is undergoing a transformation in how healthcare is organized and provided. This transformation to a Whole Health System of Care encompasses the integration of complementary and integrative health services, education, and Whole Health coaching to develop Veterans’ self-care skills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these services were provided via telehealth (tele-WH). Objective We sought to understand Veteran and provider perspectives on how tele-WH impacts Veteran engagement in Whole Health-aligned services and the impact on their well-being. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 providers who delivered tele-WH at 10 VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and 19 Veterans receiving tele-WH at 6 VAMCs. Participants were asked about their experiences with tele-WH, what they perceived to be the impact of tele-WH on Veterans, and their preferences moving forward. Interviews were transcribed, and a content analysis was performed using a rapid approach. Results We identified 3 major themes that describe the perceived impact of tele-WH on Veterans. These include: (1) increased use of Whole Health-aligned services; (2) deeper engagement with Whole-Health aligned services; and (3) improvements in social, psychological, and physical well-being. Conclusion Tele-WH is perceived to be a strong complement to in-person services and is a promising mechanism for improving engagement with Whole Health-aligned services and promoting Veteran well-being. Future research is needed to measure outcomes identified in this study and to support more equitable access to telehealth for all.

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“…The unique experiences of both loneliness and social isolation in the Armed Forces community is beginning to be recognised. Most current research focusses on the experiences of loneliness [7][8][9] and social isolation [7][8][9][10] of military veterans. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors relating to military life can increase vulnerability to, or impact experiences of, social isolation and loneliness, including, physical health [9], and life transitions such as widowhood [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intrinsic and extrinsic factors relating to military life can increase vulnerability to, or impact experiences of, social isolation and loneliness, including, physical health [9], and life transitions such as widowhood [11]. Compounding this, social and geographical mobility, and low social and economic capital increase the risk of experiencing adverse outcomes including social isolation [9,10,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The experiences of Military Widow/ers, or War Widow/ers, may differ due to the intrinsic and extrinsic factors relating to their history of being a military spouse, with many Military Widow/ers serving in the armed forces themselves, as research carried out with military veterans has illustrated [7][8][9][10]. Furthermore, there are also significant factors relating to the notification of death that has both short-term and long-term psychological impact on Military Widows and may influence experiences of social isolation and loneliness, for example, unresolved trauma and communication of the death to family members and friends [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding evidence and provision of services around social isolation and loneliness of military widow/ers: A scoping review

Johnson,

Moreland,

Kiernan

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Background Whilst the uniqueness of loneliness and social isolation is now recognised for members of the Armed Forces Community, there is currently a lack of evidence examining these experiences within the Military Widow/er population. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to search and synthesise the current evidence base exploring experiences of loneliness and social isolation in this community. Method Six databases were searched; ASSIA; CINAHL; ProQuest Dissertation & Theses Global; PsycArticles; Medline; Web of Science. Any article type was included if they focused on UK or international Military Widows and loneliness and social isolation. In the absence of loneliness and social isolation, related aspects were included, for example, social support. Results A thematic synthesis was completed on the nine eligible papers, where key findings were coded and generated into four themes; Experiences of Loneliness and Social Isolation, The Uniqueness of the Military, Access to Social Support, and The Importance of Peer Support. Conclusions Evidence supports the need for military-specific support services with peers who recognise the individuals’ unique experiences of loneliness and social isolation. None of the available evidence focused specifically on social isolation, however this was often prevalent in the results. All of the studies were carried out in the USA and Israel, with none including the views of widowers. Further evidence is required, particularly relating to a UK-context.

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Social isolation among older veterans: findings from the National Health and Aging Trends Study

Cited by 11 publications

References 37 publications

Prevalence and related factors of social isolation in older Iranian adults: a community-based study

Prevalence and related factors of social isolation in older Iranian adults: a community-based study

Promoting Whole Health and Well-Being at Home: Veteran and Provider Perspectives on the Impact of Tele-Whole Health Services

Understanding evidence and provision of services around social isolation and loneliness of military widow/ers: A scoping review

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