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Ho KHM, Chan JHM, Cheung DSK, Chan WCH, McQuillan P, Yu MT, Gulzar M, Wong CL, Liu C. Meaning-centred intervention for managing loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol. Syst Rev 2025; 14:102. [PMID: 40341163 PMCID: PMC12060411 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-025-02843-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2025] [Indexed: 05/10/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness can pose serious health and psychological concerns among community-dwelling older adults. Meaning-centred interventions, which aim to help individuals find meaning in their lives, appeared to alleviate loneliness among older adults. Yet, systematic evidence on the effectiveness of meaning-centred intervention and the experience among older adults towards this intervention is lacking. This review will systematically synthesise the evidence to examine the effect of meaning-centred intervention on loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS A mixed-methods systematic review (MMSR) with a convergent segregated approach will be employed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for MMSRs. Relevant studies will be searched from inception to 31 December 2024 from nine databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, ProQuest Social Science, Wangfang, and Google Scholar. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods study designs will be included. Two authors will independently perform data extraction and complete risk of bias and quality assessment using recommended tools. The evidence quality will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach and the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (CERQual) guidelines approach for quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively. The phenomena of interest will be the experience of meaning-centred intervention among older adults living in the community and long-term care facilities. The primary outcome will be loneliness. Other related outcomes include meanings in life, social connections, social participation, social isolation, suicide ideation, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION The review will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of meaning-centred intervention on loneliness among community-dwelling older adults by integrating the quantitative and qualitative evidence. The findings will provide practitioners, researchers, and policy workers with insights on developing and/or adopting meaning-centred interventions for alleviating the loneliness of older adults in the community and eventually promoting healthy ageing. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD 42024614173.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Hok Man Ho
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
| | - Jackie Hoi Man Chan
- School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health, University of Wollongong Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Daphne Sze Ki Cheung
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research/Alfred Health Partnership, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Wallace Chi Ho Chan
- Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8, UK
| | - Paul McQuillan
- Lifechange Therapies, Oxley, Brisbane, QLD, 4075, Australia
| | - Mei Tim Yu
- Chinese Health Foundation of Australia, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Malik Gulzar
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Cho Lee Wong
- Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
| | - Chaojie Liu
- Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
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Gizdic A, Kopilaš V. Validation study of the Croatian version of the Three-Item Loneliness Scale and its association to social network indices. BMC Psychol 2025; 13:451. [PMID: 40301977 PMCID: PMC12042618 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-02649-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2025] [Indexed: 05/01/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness is a prevalent and complex phenomenon influenced by various social and demographic factors. The goal of this study was to translate the Three-Item UCLA Loneliness Scale into Croatian and test its validity and reliability in practice. An additional aim was to explore the relationship between social connectedness and loneliness within the Croatian population, with respect to age and gender. METHOD The Three-Item Loneliness Scale was translated into Croatian and validated according to widely accepted guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation and translation of the questionnaire into different languages. Subsequently, loneliness and social connectedness were examined in 309 Croatian participants using an anonymous online survey. RESULTS The results indicated a significant association between social connectedness and loneliness. In particular, those with fewer individuals in their social network were associated with higher loneliness. Notably, age had a significant negative association with loneliness, indicating increased loneliness among younger individuals. Meanwhile older individuals with fewer active network domains experienced heightened loneliness compared to other age groups. No effect of gender was observed. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the importance of social connectedness in relation to loneliness, particularly among younger and older age individuals. This study, through its validation of the instrument for measuring loneliness, offers important insights into the unique Croatian context, emphasizing how cultural and social factors may influence the experience of loneliness and social connectedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gizdic
- University of Split, University Department of Health Studies, Split, Croatia.
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - V Kopilaš
- Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Song I. Correlates of Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Korean Adults. Healthcare (Basel) 2025; 13:806. [PMID: 40218103 PMCID: PMC11988546 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13070806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2025] [Revised: 03/22/2025] [Accepted: 03/26/2025] [Indexed: 04/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Background: Loneliness is a public health concern. Despite the increasing attention paid to loneliness globally, knowledge regarding the condition in Korea is scarce. This study aims to examine the correlates of loneliness and social isolation among Korean adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a nationally representative sample of adults aged 30 years and older from the 2021 National Mental Health Survey of Korea (N = 4696). The survey used the six-item loneliness and social isolation scale (LSIS-6) to assess loneliness and social isolation between June and August, 2021. Two ordinary least squares regression models were conducted. Model 1 included socio-demographic variables as correlates of loneliness and social isolation. Model 2 added a range of mental health conditions, such as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, alcohol-use disorder, nicotine-use disorders, and physical inactivity. Mental health was measured in relation to whether the participant had experienced each disorder in his/her lifetime. Results: A total of 34.4% of participants reported that they felt lonely at least occasionally. After all adjustments, the experience of mental health conditions was associated with an increase in the LSIS-6 score (B = 2.32 for depressive disorder, B = 0.59 for anxiety disorder, B = 0.36 for both alcohol-use disorder and nicotine-use disorder; p < 0.01). In addition, greater loneliness and social isolation were associated with male gender, older age, a lower educational level, non-married status, a lower household income, having a smaller number of children, having a greater number of chronic conditions, and taking less frequent walks per week. Conclusions: In conclusion, loneliness is prevalent among Korean adults. Loneliness and social isolation correlated significantly with socio-demographic characteristics and the experience of mental health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmyung Song
- College of Nursing and Health, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea
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Mangot-Sala L, Bartoll-Roca X, Sánchez-Ledesma E, Cortés-Albaladejo M, Liefbroer AC, Pérez K. Emerging socioeconomic correlates of loneliness. Evidence from the Barcelona Health Survey 2021. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2025; 60:917-929. [PMID: 39556241 PMCID: PMC12031919 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-024-02789-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 10/27/2024] [Indexed: 11/19/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Recent evidence shows that loneliness is associated with socioeconomic factors. However, studies often focus on traditional socioeconomic indicators (income, occupation, educational level) only, disregarding other important socioeconomic determinants, such as job insecurity, housing conditions or material deprivation. Therefore, we analyse the association of a broad range of socioeconomic indicators with loneliness. Moreover, we investigate potential age and gender differences in this relationship. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from the Barcelona Health Survey 2021, representative of the population of Barcelona (Spain). Individuals over the age of 14 were selected (n = 3,337). The outcome was a loneliness score based on 4 items of the UCLA scale. Loneliness was regressed on a series of sociodemographic and emerging socioeconomic correlates. Linear regression models were fitted, and potential age and gender moderation effects were tested by means of two-way interactions. RESULTS Job insecurity and precarity-related factors, such as having a temporary job or working without a contract, material deprivation and financial difficulties, as well as poor housing conditions and facing housing insecurity were associated with increased loneliness levels. While the association between loneliness and precarity-related factors is stronger among younger individuals, material deprivation is associated with increased loneliness among older workers and women. CONCLUSION Beyond sociodemographic individual characteristics, socioeconomic factors are strongly associated with loneliness levels in the population. Findings support the relevance of broadening the scope of socioeconomic indicators, assessing both material conditions as well as perceived insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lluís Mangot-Sala
- Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) - Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW), The Hague, The Netherlands.
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain.
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Xavier Bartoll-Roca
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Sánchez-Ledesma
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mònica Cortés-Albaladejo
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Aart C Liefbroer
- Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) - Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW), The Hague, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katherine Pérez
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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de Maio Nascimento M, Marques A, Gouveia ÉR, Green G, Lampraki C, Ihle A. The role of meaning in life in the association between loneliness and depression: a mediation study among older adults from 26 European countries. Psychiatr Q 2024; 95:599-617. [PMID: 39285004 DOI: 10.1007/s11126-024-10091-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
Loneliness and depression are serious public mental health problems. Meaning in life (MIL) is associated with reduced loneliness and depression. This study aimed to: (1) investigate associations between loneliness, MIL, and depression, differentiated by sex in individuals aged ≥ 50 years, residing in 26 European countries and Israel, and (2) to examine in men and women separately whether MIL mediated the relationship between loneliness and depression. We included 41,372 individuals (23,789 women) who responded to wave 8 of the SHARE project. The variables analyzed were loneliness (UCLA), depression (EURO-D scale), and MIL (CASP-19). The analytical procedures included regression analysis and exploratory mediation analysis. Among men and women, the odds of loneliness increasing depression were 3.6 and 3.3 times higher, respectively. Among men, feeling MIL sometimes or often had odds for reducing depression by 0.53 and 0.21, respectively. In women, feeling MIL sometimes or frequently reduced the odds of depression by 0.37 and 0.19, respectively. Regardless of sex, mediation analyses showed a positive association between loneliness and depression, while MIL was negatively associated with loneliness and depression. MIL partially mediated the association between LON and depression in male and female models by approximately 83.2% and 80.7%, respectively. No differences were found between men's and women's mediation models. Regardless of sex, high levels of MIL seem to be effective in benefiting the mental health of Europeans aged 50 and over. MIL proved to be a significant mediator of the relationship between loneliness and depression, while loneliness and depression strengthened each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo de Maio Nascimento
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale Do São Francisco, Av. José de Sá Maniçoba S/NCentro, 56304-917, Petrolina, PE, Brasil.
- Swiss Center of Expertise in Life Course Research LIVES, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Adilson Marques
- Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, CIPER, Lisbon, Portugal
- University of Lisbon, ISAMB, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Élvio R Gouveia
- Swiss Center of Expertise in Life Course Research LIVES, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
- Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems (LARSYS), Interactive Technologies Institute, Funchal, Portugal
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gizell Green
- Department of Nursing, Health Science Faculty, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Charikleia Lampraki
- Swiss Center of Expertise in Life Course Research LIVES, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Ihle
- Swiss Center of Expertise in Life Course Research LIVES, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Sachs AL, Maso-Aguado M, Bach A, Opacin N, Hill N, Cattaneo L, Coll-Planas L, Johnson K, Hidalgo L, Daher C, Litt J, Bekessy S. Developing a new tool to capture the nature dose to reduce loneliness and improve quality of life. MethodsX 2024; 13:102969. [PMID: 39385940 PMCID: PMC11462481 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Recognition of the health benefits of nature contact has increased. Simultaneously, growing numbers of people worldwide experience loneliness. There is a movement towards prescribing nature-based activities to improve/promote social connections, health, and quality of life. Yet, what constitutes a therapeutic nature dose is not well understood, due in part, to the lack of instruments that capture the characteristics of nature-based activities and measure 'nature dose.' We created a nature dose measurement tool to fill this gap by capturing various aspects of contact with nature and perceptions regarding park access, quality, naturalness, psychological distance to nature, and biodiversity. This tool will facilitate greater understanding of how natural areas, nature-based activities, and nature exposure reduce loneliness and promote health-related quality of life. Measuring nature dose with standardized tools and documenting benefits will generate the evidence base needed to design, implement and evaluate nature-based social interventions for improving health and quality of life.•This tool captures the nature dose to reduce loneliness and promote quality of life.•Constructs range from park quality and access, to mood, to biodiversity perceptions.•The standardized nature dose tool will help design nature-based social interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashby Lavelle Sachs
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, Madrid 28029, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, Barcelona 08002, Spain
| | - Montse Maso-Aguado
- Research Group on Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O), Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare, Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Carrer de La Sagrada Família, 7, Vic, Barcelona 08500, Spain
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Life Sciences and Health in Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC), Ctra. de Roda, 70, Vic 08500, Spain
| | - Albert Bach
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, Madrid 28029, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, Barcelona 08002, Spain
- Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nerkez Opacin
- School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas Hill
- School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Lucie Cattaneo
- School of Medicine - La Timone Medical Campus, EA 3279: CEReSS - Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique- Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, France
| | - Laura Coll-Planas
- Research Group on Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O), Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare, Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Carrer de La Sagrada Família, 7, Vic, Barcelona 08500, Spain
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Life Sciences and Health in Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC), Ctra. de Roda, 70, Vic 08500, Spain
| | - Katherine Johnson
- School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Laura Hidalgo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, Madrid 28029, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, Barcelona 08002, Spain
| | - Carolyn Daher
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, Madrid 28029, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, Barcelona 08002, Spain
| | - Jill Litt
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, Madrid 28029, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, Barcelona 08002, Spain
| | - Sarah Bekessy
- School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
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Band R, Rogers A. Understanding the Meaning of Loneliness and Social Engagement for the Workings of a Social Network Intervention Connecting People to Resources and Valued Activities. Health Expect 2024; 27:e70111. [PMID: 39575523 PMCID: PMC11582479 DOI: 10.1111/hex.70111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 11/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Addressing loneliness, which is associated with poor mental and physical health, implicates the need for connectivity to a broad set of situated relationships and activities in the contexts of people's everyday lives. Social engagement has been identified as a relevant psychosocial mechanism mediating health and wellness and is central to addressing loneliness. The aim here is to explore the way in which people identified as lonely conceptualise their experiences of loneliness and social engagement for the purposes of incorporating these into the design and workings of an intervention that allows people to map their social networks and connect them to community-based valued activities. METHODS Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with 20 participants, aged 21-82 years old (mean age 59.7) nested within a pragmatic, community-based randomised controlled trial in the north and south of England. Participants had wide-ranging social network sizes (from 1 to 10 individuals) and reported variable impact of loneliness on their lives. RESULTS Loneliness consisted as an absence of intimacy in the face of being surrounded by others, a sense of entrapment and boredom, lacking access to meaningful activities and difficulties in relating to others. The analysis highlighted the role that important relationships have in mediating loneliness. Individual readiness, skills and confidence in forming new connections and engaging with new activities are important barriers that exist in overcoming loneliness. For many, wider socio-political factors, such as transport provision, availability of resources and costs associated with social engagement are also important barriers which are difficult to overcome. IMPLICATIONS Exploring the link between feelings, experiences and meaning of loneliness and the way in which a network intervention can be incorporated offers a focus for mediating the richness and opportunities that arise from locality-based connections and collective activities in the broader social environment. However, any intervention seeking to address loneliness requires a further focus on both individual and relational factors which might contribute to addressing loneliness and increasing a sense of wellness. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION The study team worked closely with community partner organisations in all aspects of this research, including, the submission of the funding proposal, development of the study protocol and procedures, recruitment, intervention deployment and assessment of implementation. PPI representatives provided advice on participant materials and interview schedules, and project management throughout and contributed to management and steering committee meetings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Band
- School of Health SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, School of Health and Social CareSwansea UniversitySwanseaWalesUK
| | - Anne Rogers
- School of Health SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
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Lange SK, Stig MH, Eghøj M, Petersen CB. Can We Steer Nursing Home Residents Away from Loneliness? A Qualitative Study of Cycling without Age. Geriatrics (Basel) 2024; 9:88. [PMID: 39051252 PMCID: PMC11270177 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics9040088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness among nursing home residents is an increasing public health issue and consists of a combination of social, emotional, and existential loneliness. Cycling Without Age (CWA) involves taking nursing home residents on trishaw rides pedaled by trained volunteer 'pilots'. This study aims to explore nursing home residents' lived experiences of CWA and whether participation in CWA can mitigate experiences of loneliness. METHODS A qualitative phenomenological design was used. We conducted three observations and eight interviews: semi-structured interviews (n = 5) and informal interviews (n = 3) with passengers in CWA. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS Three themes were developed: 1. creating meaningful communities (related to the social mechanism connected to participating in CWA), 2. breaking the monotony of everyday life (related to how the passengers experience CWA as a meaningful activity), and 3. reconnecting to oneself (related to the meaningful experience the passengers have when they are connected to their local communities and reminiscence). CONCLUSION Taking part in CWA may mitigate loneliness, as passengers perceive it as being meaningful. These results strengthen the notion that participating in meaningful activities hold the potential to mitigate feelings of loneliness among nursing home residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Kruse Lange
- The Department of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Maiken Hauge Stig
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 1455 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.H.S.); (M.E.)
| | - Martin Eghøj
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 1455 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.H.S.); (M.E.)
| | - Christina Bjørk Petersen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 1455 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.H.S.); (M.E.)
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Cormier K, Brennan C, Sharma A. Hearing loss and psychosocial outcomes: Influences of social emotional aspects and personality. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304428. [PMID: 38865302 PMCID: PMC11168651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of social isolation, loneliness, anxiety, depression, higher stress, and memory complaints interacting with personality traits as a function of hearing loss. Personality traits have previously been shown to correlate with anxiety and depression, as well as hearing loss, suggesting an effect of personality on the relationship between social emotional outcomes and hearing loss. A cross-sectional survey including validated screening measures was anonymously administered. Measures included personality (Big Five Index-2 Extra-Short Form), stress (Perceived Stress Scale), anxiety and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety), loneliness (Three-Item Loneliness Scale), social engagement (Lubben Social Network Scale-6), and self-perceived memory complaints (Subjective Cognitive Function). Eight hundred and ninety-one responses were obtained from adults between the ages of 18 and 90 years old (M = 50 years old). Hearing loss was positively correlated with subjective memory complaints only when not accounting for demographic variables, personality traits, psychosocial outcomes, and social emotional outcomes. There were additive effects of hearing loss and negative emotionality on increases in memory complaints in those who self-identified as maybe having hearing loss. Higher degrees of hearing loss also increased loneliness, with greater hearing loss negating the positive correlation between extraversion and social engagement. Overall, our results suggest that hearing loss significantly interacts with personality traits and other social emotional measures. Our results suggest that the impact of hearing loss on memory complaints, social isolation, and loneliness may differ across patients with hearing loss in comparison with those who think they maybe have hearing loss. Information from this study may provide insights for hearing healthcare and mental healthcare professionals to better serve persons with hearing loss who may require additional support or interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Cormier
- Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States of America
| | - Christine Brennan
- Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States of America
| | - Anu Sharma
- Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States of America
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Hong JH, Nakamura JS, Sahakari SS, Chopik WJ, Shiba K, VanderWeele TJ, Kim ES. The silent epidemic of loneliness: identifying the antecedents of loneliness using a lagged exposure-wide approach. Psychol Med 2024; 54:1519-1532. [PMID: 38497115 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A large and accumulating body of evidence shows that loneliness is detrimental for various health and well-being outcomes. However, less is known about potentially modifiable factors that lead to decreased loneliness. METHODS We used data from the Health and Retirement Study to prospectively evaluate a wide array of candidate predictors of subsequent loneliness. Importantly, we examined if changes in 69 physical-, behavioral-, and psychosocial-health factors (from t0;2006/2008 to t1;2010/2012) were associated with subsequent loneliness 4 years later (t2;2014/2016). RESULTS Adjusting for a large range of covariates, changes in certain health behaviors (e.g. increased physical activity), physical health factors (e.g. fewer functioning limitations), psychological factors (e.g. increased purpose in life, decreased depression), and social factors (e.g. greater number of close friends) were associated with less subsequent loneliness. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that subjective ratings of physical and psychological health and perceived social environment (e.g. chronic pain, self-rated health, purpose in life, anxiety, neighborhood cohesion) are more strongly associated with subsequent loneliness. Yet, objective ratings (e.g. specific chronic health conditions, living status) show less evidence of associations with subsequent loneliness. The current study identified potentially modifiable predictors of subsequent loneliness that may be important targets for interventions aimed at reducing loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna H Hong
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julia S Nakamura
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sakshi S Sahakari
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - William J Chopik
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Koichiro Shiba
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tyler J VanderWeele
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric S Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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Meng SQ, Bai BY, Bai CZ, Shrestha S, Ren YZ. Invalidating environment and meaning in life: The Chain Mediating Effects of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and basic psychological needs satisfaction. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 151:106736. [PMID: 38522146 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although people strive for meaning in life, life is full of experiences that challenge meaning. According to Bowen's family systems theory, the family is both a relational and an emotional system in which family members influence and are influenced by each other. Invalidating environment, reflecting a deficient family emotional setting, may be a key influencing factor in diminishing meaning in life. Existing studies have not directly explored the effects of the invalidating environment on meaning in life and its underlying mechanism. OBJECTIVE Guided by Bowen's family systems theory, this study aims to explore the relationship between invalidating environment and meaning in life, as well as the mediating effects of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. METHODS A sample of 555 university students (62.5 % female, 37.5 % male; Mage =19.13 years old, SD = 1.72) completed questionnaires regarding demographics, invalidating environment, meaning in life, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and basic psychological needs satisfaction. RESULTS Results revealed that: (a) invalidating environment negatively predicts meaning in life; (b) regulatory emotional self-efficacy and basic psychological needs satisfaction serve as both independent and chain mediators between invalidating environment and meaning in life. CONCLUSION Invalidating environment affects meaning in life through regulatory emotional self-efficacy and basic psychological needs satisfaction. This finding has significant theoretical implications and provides a feasible pathway to improve children's meaning in life at both the parent and child levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Qing Meng
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Bao-Yu Bai
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
| | - Cheng-Zhi Bai
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Silu Shrestha
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yi-Zhen Ren
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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12
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Meese KA, Boitet LM, Sweeney KL, Rogers DA. Perceived stress from social isolation or loneliness among clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers during COVID-19. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1010. [PMID: 38605388 PMCID: PMC11010423 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18363-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Workplace social isolation and loneliness have been found to result in a decline in job satisfaction and an increase in burnout among working individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated feelings of loneliness and social isolation among healthcare workers. The majority of research on healthcare worker experiences is conducted in siloes which does not reflect the shared experiences of interprofessional teams. The purpose of this study is to understand stress from social isolation or loneliness across the entire clinical and non-clinical healthcare team over the course of the pandemic. METHODS Data was acquired using a cross-sectional survey distributed to healthcare workers once a year at a large academic medical center in the Southeastern United States during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022). Information pertaining to job role, work location, and demographic factors was collected. Participants were also asked to assess individual well-being and resilience, in addition to reporting stress derived from various sources including job demands and social isolation or loneliness. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were conducted to assess the association between stress from social isolation or loneliness and individual characteristics. RESULTS Stress from social isolation or loneliness was found to decrease over the survey period across all measured variables. Trainees and physician-scientists were found to report the highest rates of this stressor compared to other job roles, while Hospital-Based ICU and Non-ICU work locations reported the highest rates of loneliness and social isolation stress. Younger workers and individuals from marginalized gender and racial groups were at greater risk for stress from social isolation or loneliness. CONCLUSIONS Given the importance of social connections for well-being and job performance, organizations have a responsibility to create conditions and mechanisms to foster social connections. This includes establishing and reinforcing norms of behavior, and developing connection mechanisms, particularly for groups at high risk of loneliness and social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Meese
- Department of Health Services Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, United States.
- UAB Medicine Office of Wellness, UAB, Birmingham, United States.
| | - Laurence M Boitet
- UAB Medicine Office of Wellness, UAB, Birmingham, United States
- Department of Medical Education, UAB, Birmingham, United States
| | | | - David A Rogers
- UAB Medicine Office of Wellness, UAB, Birmingham, United States
- Department of Surgery, UAB, Birmingham, United States
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13
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Zhang K, Burr JA, Mutchler JE, Lu J. Pathways Linking Information and Communication Technology Use and Loneliness Among Older Adults: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2024; 64:gnad100. [PMID: 37480586 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnad100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study investigated the association between information and communication technology (ICT) use and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults (aged 65+), as well as the mediating effects of social relations, perceived control, and purpose-in-life. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study used data from the 2014 and 2018 Health and Retirement Study (N = 3,026), employing autoregressive path models with contemporaneous mediation to assess the association of 2 kinds of ICT use, social media communication and general computer use, with loneliness through the pathways of perceived social support, social contact, perceived constraints, and purpose-in-life. RESULTS Social media communication had a negative association with loneliness. Perceived social support and social contact mediated this association, but not perceived constraints, or purpose-in-life. General computer use did not have a significant total effect on loneliness; however, a significant indirect effect through perceived constraints, purpose-in-life, and social contact was found. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings extended the existing literature regarding the important factors associated with variation in loneliness among older adults. Health programs and ICT solutions could be more effective in mitigating loneliness if they target the root causes of loneliness, including reducing perceptions of constraints and increasing a sense of purpose-in-life, along with strengthening social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyu Zhang
- Department of Gerontology, McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Burr
- Department of Gerontology, McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jan E Mutchler
- Department of Gerontology, McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jiehua Lu
- Department of Sociology, Center for Healthy Aging and Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
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14
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Kim C, Chun J. "Meaning in Life" Mediates the Relationship between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:584. [PMID: 38470695 PMCID: PMC10930687 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12050584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness was found to be a commonly experienced feeling among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and is considered to be a high-risk factor for depressive symptoms. Maintaining meaning in life has been found to be a protective resource for mental health among older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effects of an individual's meaning in life in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms among older Korean adults. METHODS The data were obtained from a sample of 213 community-dwelling older adults aged over 65. The instruments were the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. RESULTS Loneliness was positively associated with depressive symptoms and negatively associated with the presence of and search for meaning among older adults. The presence of meaning mediated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms but the search for meaning did not. The search for meaning mediated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms through the presence of meaning. CONCLUSIONS Our study findings suggest that efforts to reduce loneliness and improve meaning in life should be undertaken to prevent depressive symptoms among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanhee Kim
- Department of Nursing, Changwon National University, 20 Changwondaehak-ro, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si 51140, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jiyoung Chun
- College of Nursing, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
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15
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Parlikar N, Kvaløy K, Strand LB, Espnes GA, Moksnes UK. Loneliness in the Norwegian adolescent population: prevalence trends and relations to mental and self-rated health. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:895. [PMID: 38037032 PMCID: PMC10688064 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05404-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness has become a significant public health problem and should be addressed with more research over a broader period. This study investigates the variations in the prevalence of loneliness among a nationally representative study population of Norwegian adolescents over the last three decades and whether age, gender, self-rated health, and mental distress are associated with these changes. METHODS Adolescents aged 13-19 years completed the structured and validated questionnaires from the three waves of the Young-HUNT Study: 1995-1997, 2006-2008, and 2017-2019. Loneliness was measured with one item asking, 'Are you lonely?'. Hopkins Symptom Checklist-5 was used to measure mental distress (cut-off ≥ 2). Self-rated health was assessed by a single question 'How is your health at the moment?' Measures were provided by self-report. Descriptive analyses were stratified by age, gender, self-rated health, and mental distress. Linear-by-Linear association test across survey years was performed to test time trends of loneliness. Logistic regression was used to analyze the cross-sectional associations of self-rated health and mental distress with loneliness, adjusting for sociodemographic factors in all three waves of Young-HUNT. RESULTS Loneliness prevalence doubled from 5.9% in 1995/97 to 10.2% in 2017/19 in the total population sample. The highest loneliness prevalence and an increase from 8.9% in 1995/97 to 16.7% in 2017/19 was observed in girls of 16-19 years. Among mentally distressed adolescents, loneliness increased from 22.3% in 1995/97 to 32.8% in 2006/08 and lowered to 27% in 2017/19. Increasing loneliness prevalence was seen in those with poor self-rated health, i.e., 14.6% in 1995-97 and 26.6% in 2017-19. Mental distress and poor self-rated health were associated with higher odds of loneliness in each wave (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The results highlight the increasing burden of loneliness in the Norwegian adolescent population, especially girls. Those with mental distress and poor self-rated health have a higher risk of experiencing loneliness. Thus, health-promoting upbringing environments for children and adolescents that support mutual affinity, social support, integration, and belongingness in adolescents' daily arenas are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayan Parlikar
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Kirsti Kvaløy
- HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway
- Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger, Norway
- Centre for Sami Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Linn Beate Strand
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Geir Arild Espnes
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Unni Karin Moksnes
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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16
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Çağış ZG, Öztekin GG, Aziz IA, Chirico F, Rizzo A, Yıldırım M. Meaning in Life and Loneliness as Mediators between COVID-19 Anxiety and Life Satisfaction in the Post-Pandemic among the General Population in Turkey: A Serial Mediation Model. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:2214-2225. [PMID: 37887157 PMCID: PMC10606174 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13100156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global society, leading to negative well-being and mental health outcomes. However, little is known about how COVID-19-related anxiety affects life satisfaction through psychological factors. This study examined the mediating roles of meaning in life and loneliness in the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and life satisfaction in 333 Turkish general population (59.2% females; Mage = 33.9 ± 7.8). Participants completed measures of COVID-19 anxiety, life satisfaction, meaning in life, and loneliness. The results showed that COVID-19 anxiety predicted meaning in life, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Meaning in life predicted loneliness and life satisfaction, while loneliness predicted life satisfaction. Serial mediation analysis revealed that COVID-19 anxiety predicts life satisfaction through meaning in life and loneliness, even after controlling for age and gender. These findings contribute to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms between COVID-19 anxiety and life satisfaction, with implications for future research and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zafer Güney Çağış
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Mersin University, 33110 Mersin, Turkey;
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Fırat Mahallesi Yeni Üniversite Caddesi No: 2 AE/1, 04100 Merkez/Ağrı, Turkey;
| | - Gülçin Güler Öztekin
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Fırat Mahallesi Yeni Üniversite Caddesi No: 2 AE/1, 04100 Merkez/Ağrı, Turkey;
| | - Izaddin Ahmad Aziz
- Special Education Department, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil 44002, Iraq;
- English Department, College of Education, Bayan University, Erbil 44002, Iraq
| | - Francesco Chirico
- Post-Graduate School of Occupational Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Health Service Department, Italian State Police, Ministry of the Interior, 00184 Milan, Italy
| | - Amelia Rizzo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Murat Yıldırım
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Fırat Mahallesi Yeni Üniversite Caddesi No: 2 AE/1, 04100 Merkez/Ağrı, Turkey;
- Graduate Studies and Research, Lebanese American University, Beirut 13-5053, Lebanon
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17
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Nakashima D, Fujii K, Kubo Y, Yorozuya K. Relationships between Loneliness and Occupational Dysfunction in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. Occup Ther Int 2023; 2023:9505865. [PMID: 37719280 PMCID: PMC10501838 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9505865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The study explored cross-sectional associations between loneliness and occupational dysfunction in community-dwelling older adults. Seventy-four older adults (12 men and 62 women; mean age 73.9 ± 8.3 years) completed a questionnaire survey that included the Japanese version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 and the Classification and Assessment of Occupational Dysfunction (CAOD). Bayesian statistical modeling was used for a more stable estimation given the small sample. For model selection, we assumed a univariate analysis model of the CAOD (Model 1); a multivariate analysis model, including confounding factors in Model 1 (Model 2); and a multivariate analysis model, including random effects in Model 2 (Model 3). The best model was selected by comparing the widely applicable information criterion (WAIC) and the widely applicable Bayesian information criterion (WBIC) for each model. Bayesian statistics with the dependent variable as "loneliness" showed that the best model used "occupational dysfunction" as the independent variable and included confounding factors and random effects (WAIC = 474.5 and WBIC = 213.1). The best model identified an association between occupational dysfunction and loneliness (odds ratio [OR] = 2.363; 95% Bayesian confidence interval [CI] = 1.105-5.259). This study highlights the role of occupational dysfunction in addition to the risks and related factors reported to date when dealing with loneliness. Therapists could help older adults cope with loneliness by supporting their social participation and improving their occupational dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Nakashima
- Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science, Naragakuen University, 3-15-1, Nakatomigaoka, Nara, Nara 631-8524, Japan
| | - Keisuke Fujii
- Department of Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy Course, Faculty of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, 1001-1, Kishioka, Suzuka, Mie 510-0293, Japan
| | - Yuta Kubo
- Division of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation and Care, Seijoh University, 2-172 Fukinodai, Tokai, Aichi 476-8588, Japan
| | - Kyosuke Yorozuya
- Division of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation and Care, Seijoh University, 2-172 Fukinodai, Tokai, Aichi 476-8588, Japan
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18
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Rubio-Belmonte C, Mayordomo Rodríguez T, García-Alandete J. Psychometric properties of the Purpose In Life-Short Form in the Spanish population. J Clin Psychol 2023; 79:1099-1112. [PMID: 36417619 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Purpose in Life Test-Short Form (PIL-SF), a brief self-report measure of the presence of meaning in life (MiL). Participants were 349 nonclinical Spanish undergraduates (225 women, 64.5%, and 124 men, 35.5%), age ranged between 18 and 26 years (M = 20.85; SD = 2.16). The PIL-SF, the Seeking of Noetic Goals-8 Items (SONG-8), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) were used. Descriptive analysis, estimation of the internal consistency, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the PIL-SF were conducted, and correlations between the PIL-SF and the SONG-8, the SWLS, and the OHQ were calculated. The PIL-SF showed good internal consistency and an excellent fit as a unidimensional scale confirming its factorial structure. Regarding construct validity, correlations between the PIL-SF and SWLS (r= 0.59) and OHQ (r = 0.56) were positive, significant (p < 0.001), while correlation between PIL-SF and SONG-8 was negative, significant (r = -0.23, p < 0.001). The Spanish adaptation of PIL-SF seems to be a valid measure of MiL with good internal consistency.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Rubio-Belmonte
- Department of Occupational Science, Speech Therapy, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Mayordomo Rodríguez
- Department of Neuropsychobiology, Methodology, and Social and Basic Psychology, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain
| | - Joaquín García-Alandete
- Dpto. de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
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19
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Bertman S. The heroic challenge of retirement. J Aging Stud 2022; 63:101080. [PMID: 36462923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2022.101080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the theme of retirement in the epic tale of Odysseus and the implications it can have for contemporary retirees in the light of recent empirical research. METHODS Homer's Odyssey (ca. 8th cent. B.C.E.) and Tennyson's poem "Ulysses" (1833) were closely read and compared to disclose the impact retirement had on a literary character who had for most of his life thrived on action. RESULTS While Homer avoided directly describing the quality of Odysseus' life once he had returned home from war, Tennyson focused on it, arguing that a life devoid of adventure would have been intolerable for such a personality. DISCUSSION Seeking out new adventures and experiences, despite one's age, may serve to mitigate one of the most common negative components of retirement today, boredom, and thereby lengthen and enhance the quality of retirees' lives.
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20
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Baños RM, Desdentado L, Vara MD, Escrivá-Martínez T, Herrero R, Miragall M, Tomás JM. How the COVID-19 Pandemic and its Consequences Affect the Presence of and Search for Meaning of Life: A Longitudinal Study. JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES 2022; 24:17-33. [PMID: 36312909 PMCID: PMC9595083 DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00592-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The presence of meaning in life (PML) and the search for meaning in life (SML) are crucial when facing difficult times. Although several theoretical frameworks have tried to explain the dynamics of meaning in life during adversity, empirical evidence about interactions among both constructs using longitudinal designs is scarce. This study examined the trajectories of both PML and SML during the COVID-19 lockdown period in Spain. In total, 220 adults fulfilled an online survey during two periods: a strict and a relaxed lockdown period. Latent growth models showed that both PML and SML declined slightly during the strict lockdown, but they reached a plateau during the relaxed lockdown. Results also showed that age and having a partner predicted higher PML and lower SML at baseline, whereas being male predicted higher scores on PML. PML and SML were negatively associated at baseline, higher SML at baseline was related to a steeper decreasing PML slope during the strict lockdown, and the PML and SML slopes in the relaxed lockdown period were negatively related. This study contributes to better understanding longitudinal fluctuations of meaning in life in situations of adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Mª Baños
- Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lorena Desdentado
- Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mª Dolores Vara
- Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tamara Escrivá-Martínez
- Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rocío Herrero
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
| | - Marta Miragall
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - José M. Tomás
- Department of Methodology for the Behavioral Sciences, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Luo J, Tang FC, Yang R, Gong J, Yao CK, Huang X, Chen W, Zhao SY. Longitudinal measurement invariance of the meaning in life questionnaire in Chinese college students. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1001548. [PMID: 36389477 PMCID: PMC9640618 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1001548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) is a popular tool to measure the presence of and one's search for meaning in life. Although the validity of the MLQ has been verified in previous studies, the evidence from longitudinal measurement invariance (LMI) of the MLQ is still lacking. The current study aimed to examine the LMI of the MLQ in a sample of Chinese college students (N = 328) at a 1-year interval. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) was used to examine the LMI of the MLQ over four time points (over the course of 1 year). Results indicate that the MLQ has strict longitudinal invariance across 1-year in Chinese college students, and the latent means difference of MLQ-P is not significant differences across time, while the latent means difference of MLQ-S show significant differences between Time 1 and the other time points. Moreover, the internal consistency reliabilities (e.g., alpha and omega) of the MLQ scores were acceptable at all four time points, and the stability coefficients across time were moderate. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the MLQ has satisfactory longitudinal properties in Chinese college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Luo
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Fu-Chuan Tang
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ren Yang
- Office of Academic Research, University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Gong
- The School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng-Kui Yao
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xinquan Huang
- School of Marxism, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Shuo-Ying Zhao
- Department of Psychology, Kaili University, Kaili City, China
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García C, Moreno L, Alacreu M, Muñoz FJ, Martínez LA. Addressing Psychosocial Factors in Cognitive Impairment Screening from a Holistic Perspective: The DeCo-Booklet Methodology Design and Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12911. [PMID: 36232215 PMCID: PMC9565987 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment (CI), an intermediate phase between the decline in physiological cognition and dementia, is known to be mediated by a variety of risk and protective factors, with age being the most influential of these. The multifactorial nature of CI and the worldwide phenomenon of an aging population makes decoupling old age from disease through the concept of healthy aging (HA) a matter of major interest. Focusing on psychosocial variables and psychological constructs, here we designed and piloted a data collection booklet (DeCo-B) to assess CI and HA from a holistic perspective. The DeCo-B comprises six sections: sociodemographic factors, CI, meaning in life, psychosocial factors, health problems, and lifestyle. The estimated prevalence of CI and HA in our cohort were 24.4% and 6.6%, respectively. Spearman correlations mainly identified pairwise associations between the meaning in life domains and psychosocial variables. Moreover, age, marital status, purpose in life, resilience, chronic pain, cognitive reserve, and obstructive sleep apnea were significantly associated with an increased risk of CI. Our results showed that DeCo-B is a suitable tool for researching how modifiable risk and protective factors influence cognitive status. The complex interrelationships between variables should be further investigated and, for practical reasons, the questionnaire should be optimized in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina García
- Cátedra DeCo MICOF-CEU UCH, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Valencia, Spain
- Community Pharmacist, 02161 Albacete, Spain
| | - Lucrecia Moreno
- Cátedra DeCo MICOF-CEU UCH, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Alacreu
- Cátedra DeCo MICOF-CEU UCH, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
- Embedded Systems and Artificial Intelligence Group, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Muñoz
- Cátedra DeCo MICOF-CEU UCH, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
- Embedded Systems and Artificial Intelligence Group, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
| | - Luis A. Martínez
- Cátedra DeCo MICOF-CEU UCH, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
- Community Pharmacist, 02161 Albacete, Spain
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23
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Wang Z, Wang X, Peng Y, Liu C, He J. Recalled Childhood Maltreatment and Suicide Risk in Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Psychache and the Moderating Role of Meaning in Life. JOURNAL OF ADULT DEVELOPMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10804-022-09422-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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24
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Switsers L, Qualter P, Pan H, Barreto M, De Donder L, Victor C, Dury S, Hammond C, Dierckx E. Exploring the demographic and situational characteristics of older British people experiencing loneliness as positive within the BBC loneliness experiment. Aging Ment Health 2022:1-7. [PMID: 35770797 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2088692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to increase the understanding of loneliness experienced as positive, by exploring the demographic and situational characteristics of older people who experience loneliness as positive. METHOD Two binary logistic regressions were conducted using data from those aged 60+ from the BBC Loneliness Experiment (N = 5250). RESULTS The first binary logistic regression compared participants who experience loneliness always as positive (N = 219) to those participants who never experience loneliness as positive (N = 3004). Spending time alone did not emerge as relevant to experiencing loneliness as positive, but enjoying time alone was important (OR = 1.561 (95% CI = 1.313 - 1.856)). The lonelier older people were, the less likely they experienced loneliness as positive (OR = 0.708 (95% CI =0.644 - 0.779)). Men were more likely to experience loneliness as positive compared to women (OR = 1.734 (95% CI = 1.269 - 2.370)). Lastly, the experience of loneliness as positive was likely to decrease when older people had more years of education (OR = 0.887 (95% CI = 0.853 - 0.921)) but increased with age (OR = 1.067 (95% CI = 1.037 - 1.098)). The results of the second binary logistic regression comparing participants who indicated loneliness purely as positive with those participants indicate to experience loneliness sometimes as positive (N = 2027), are in line with the first regression analyses. CONCLUSION The results are critically discussed by emphasizing the role of norms and cultures, gerotranscendence, and severity of loneliness, which might influence the experiences of loneliness. Further qualitative research is needed to elucidate the meanings of these positive experiences of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Switsers
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Honghui Pan
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Liesbeth De Donder
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christina Victor
- Department of Health Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Dury
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Claudia Hammond
- Radio Science Unit, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), London, UK
| | - Eva Dierckx
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Psychiatric Hospital Alexianen Zorggroep Tienen, Tienen, Belgium
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25
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Spanish version of Jenkins Sleep Scale in physicians and nurses: psychometric properties from a Peruvian nationally representative sample. J Psychosom Res 2022; 157:110759. [PMID: 35358746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.110759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of Jenkins Sleep Scale with 4 items (JSS-4) of the Peruvian health system's (PHS) nurses and physicians. METHODS We carried out a psychometric study based on secondary analysis in a sample from a nationally representative survey that used acomplex sampling design. The participants were physicians and nurses aged 18-65 years, working in PHS private and public facilities, who have fulfilled all JSS-4 items. We performed a confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was evaluated via two estimates - classic alpha (α) and categorical omega (ω) coefficients. Also, we tested the invariance across groups of variables. The convergent validity was evaluated based on the relation between JSS-4 and PHQ-2 using Pearson's correlation coefficient and effect size (Cohen's d). Also, we designed normative values based on percentiles. RESULTS We included 2100 physicians and 2826 nurses in the analysis. We observed that the unidimensional model has adequate goodness-of-fit indices and values of α and ω coefficients. No measurement invariance was found between the groups of professionals and age groups; however, invariance was achieved between sex, monthly income, work-related illness, and chronic illness groups. Regarding the relation with other variables, the JSS-4 has a small correlation with PHQ-2. Also, profession and age-specific normative values were proposed. CONCLUSION JSS-4 Spanish version has adequate psychometric properties in PHS nurses and physicians.
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26
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Mindfulness and Modern Mindfulness: Considering Buddhist Communities and Personal Salvation from Depression. RELIGIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rel13050406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This thesis aims to consider some of the differences between mindfulness as a Buddhist practice and mindfulness-based programs. The primary difference considered is the individualistic perspectives taken by mindfulness-based programs. If modern mindfulness-based techniques are meant as a treatment for depression, and depression is in part caused by isolation then these programs must also consider mindfulness as a project, which does not accentuate the self as distinct from others. Personal salvation from deficits of the mind is a regular theme of modern mindfulness. This initial goal-oriented, self-interested perspective is potentially threatening to a depressed person who secludes her- or himself in a private world of the “fix it” self-project. With interdependent origination (緣起) as a tenet and the sangha (僧) as one of the three jewels (三寶), Buddhism emphasizes community where salvation is defined as the liberation of all beings from suffering. Therefore, this thesis suggests that mindfulness practices initiated from a self-help perspective are troubled to the extent that they isolate the practitioner. Therefore, a Buddhist interpretation of modern mindfulness, especially regarding individualism and isolation as a cause of depression, is desirable.
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27
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Pop LM, Iorga M, Iurcov R. Body-Esteem, Self-Esteem and Loneliness among Social Media Young Users. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095064. [PMID: 35564458 PMCID: PMC9104843 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The use of social networking sites for socializing, having fun, solving academic tasks or even getting counselling for health-related problems is now inevitable. Methods: A total of 427 medical students, who are users of social media sites, were included in the research. Data about socio-demographic, anthropometric, and self-rated items regarding satisfaction with physical and mental health were collected. Three psychological tools were also used to measure self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), body-esteem (Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults) and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale). Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: Students use these networks for socialization (49.0%), entertainment (31.1%) and academic tasks (19.9%), spending 3.38 ± 0.80 h per day on SNSs. Less than half of them (47.5%) compared themselves to other SNS profiles. The use of Snapchat was found to be strongly positively correlated with self-esteem, and weight status was negatively correlated with the use of TikTok. More than three-quarters declared that they exercised to lose weight or to prevent weight gain. Participants were found to have a high level of body esteem. Almost half of the students proved to have a moderate to a high level of loneliness. Age and gender were found to be important: the younger the user, the higher the scores for loneliness and feeling depressed, and the greater the number of hours on SNSs. The total score for self-esteem was significantly higher in men than in women, and male students appreciated themselves as being in a better state of mental health than women. Conclusions: The results prove a relationship between the use of SNSs and the presence of loneliness, self-esteem and body-esteem, with gender differences. However, the use of SNSs should not be neglected in clinical settings, and are a good means of reaching patients and providing medical and psychological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Maria Pop
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 700554 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Magdalena Iorga
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 700554 Iasi, Romania;
- Behavioral Sciences Department, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Raluca Iurcov
- Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania;
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28
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Yu Y. Thwarted Belongingness Hindered Successful Aging in Chinese Older Adults: Roles of Positive Mental Health and Meaning in Life. Front Psychol 2022; 13:839125. [PMID: 35282264 PMCID: PMC8907150 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.839125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging of population has brought great challenges to many regions throughout the world. It has been demonstrated that interpersonal relationship is closely related to the experiences of aging for older adults. However, it still remains unknown how and under what conditions thwarted belongingness links to successful aging. This study examined the relationship between thwarted belongingness and successful aging and tested the mediating role of positive mental health and the moderating role of meaning in life. Community-dwelling older adults (n = 339) aged 60-75 years recruited in Chongqing, China completed self-measures of thwarted belongingness, successful aging, meaning in life, and positive mental health. Correlation analyses showed that successful aging was associated with less thwarted belongingness, better positive mental health, and higher levels of meaning in life. Positive mental health was found to totally mediate the negative effect of thwarted belongingness on successful aging. Moderated mediation analyses further revealed that two components of meaning in life (present of meaning and search for meaning) attenuated the indirect effect of thwarted belongingness on successful aging via positive mental health. This study highlights the protective roles of positive mental health and meaning in life and addressed cultural aspects in the process of successful aging among Chinese older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongju Yu
- Department of Social Work, School of International Law and Sociology, Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing, China
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29
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Pascual-Leone A, Bartres-Faz D. Human Brain Resilience: A Call to Action. Ann Neurol 2021; 90:336-349. [PMID: 34219268 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
At present, resilience refers to a highly heterogeneous concept with ill-defined determinants, mechanisms, and outcomes. This call for action argues for the need to define resilience as a person-centered multidimensional metric, informed by a dynamic lifespan perspective and combining observational and interventional experimental studies to identify specific neural markers and correlated behavioral measures. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlights the urgent need of such an effort with the ultimate goal of defining a new vital sign, an individual index of resilience, as a life-long metric with the capacity to predict an individual's risk for disability in the face of a stressor, insult, injury, or disease. ANN NEUROL 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health at Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA.,Institut Guttmann de Neurorehabilitació, Guttmann Brain Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Bartres-Faz
- Institut Guttmann de Neurorehabilitació, Guttmann Brain Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Department de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut - Campus Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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