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Being alone or becoming lonely? The complexity of portraying ‘unaccompanied children’ as being alone in Sweden
- Authors:
- HERTZ Marcus, LALANDER Philip
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Youth Studies, 20(8), 2017, pp.1062-1076.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Research has largely focused on ‘unaccompanied minors’ as a vulnerable group at risk of developing psychological problems that affect their health. Separation from primary caregivers is considered one of the foremost reasons for these young people’s proposed loneliness. Thus, the official and ascribed identity is that they are lonely and that loneliness is their major problem. But research has seldom given the young people themselves an opportunity to express their views in an attempt to trace the often situational, dynamic and complex nature of social and emotional life. The present article analyses how ‘unaccompanied minors’ talk about everyday life and themes related to loneliness. The authors followed 23 ‘unaccompanied minors’ during a period of a year through ethnographic observations and qualitative interviews. Results: Loneliness may occur when these young people experience lack of control in managing life and when they feel no one grieves for them; loneliness may be dealt with by creating new social contacts and friends; loneliness may be reinforced or reduced in encounters with representatives from ‘the system’; the young people may experience frustration about being repeatedly labelled ‘unaccompanied’ and they may create a resistance to and critical reflexivity towards this labelling. (Edited publisher abstract)
Relationship between loneliness and mental health in students
- Authors:
- RICHARDSON Thomas, ELLIOT Peter, ROBERTS Ron
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 16(2), 2017, pp.48-54.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Previous cross-sectional research has examined the effect of loneliness on mental health. The purpose of this paper is to examine longitudinal relationships in students. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 454 British undergraduate students completed measures of loneliness and mental health at four time points. Findings: After controlling for demographics and baseline mental health, greater loneliness predicted greater anxiety, stress, depression and general mental health over time. There was no evidence that mental health problems increased loneliness over time. There was no relationship with alcohol problems. Baseline loneliness predicted greater eating disorder risk at follow-up and vice versa. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited by a relatively small and heavily female sample. Practical implications: Social and psychological interventions to reduce loneliness in university settings may improve mental health. Social implications: Universities should consider organising social activities to mitigate feelings of loneliness in students. Originality/value: This study adds to the literature as a longitudinal analysis showing that loneliness exacerbates poor mental health over time. This also adds to the literature for students specifically, and suggests a possible bi-directional relationship between eating disorders and loneliness for the first time. (Publisher abstract)
Loneliness, depression and cognitive function in older U.S. adults
- Authors:
- DONOVAN Nancy J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(5), 2017, p.564–573.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: To examine reciprocal relations of loneliness and cognitive function in older adults. Methods: Data were analysed from 8382 men and women, age 65 and older, participating in the US Health and Retirement Study from 1998 to 2010. Participants underwent biennial assessments of loneliness and depression (classified as no, low or high depression) determined by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (8-item version), cognition (a derived memory score based on a word list memory task and proxy-rated memory and global cognitive function), health status and social and demographic characteristics from 1998 to 2010. The authors used repeated measures analysis to examine the reciprocal relations of loneliness and cognitive function in separate models controlling sequentially and cumulatively for socio-demographic factors, social network, health conditions and depression. Results: Loneliness at baseline predicted accelerated cognitive decline over 12 years independent of baseline socio-demographic factors, social network, health conditions and depression (β = −0.2, p = 0.002). After adjustment for depression interacting with time, both low and high depression categories were related to faster cognitive decline and the estimated effect of loneliness became marginally significant. Reciprocally, poorer cognition at baseline was associated with greater odds of loneliness over time in adjusted analyses (OR 1.3, 95% CI (1.1–1.5) p = 0.005), but not when controlling for baseline depression. Furthermore, cognition did not predict change in loneliness over time. Conclusion: Examining longitudinal data across a broad range of cognitive abilities, loneliness and depressive symptoms appear to be related risk factors for worsening cognition but low cognitive function does not lead to worsening loneliness over time. (Edited publisher abstract)
Introduction to the research on: what works to improve social networks and prevent social isolation for people with mental health problems
- Authors:
- HARFLETT Naomi, JENNINGS Yasmin, LINSKY Kate
- Publisher:
- National Development Team for Inclusion
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 17
- Place of publication:
- Bath
This short scoping review identifies research into what works to improve the social networks and prevent social isolation for people with mental health problems. Searches for the review were conducted on organisational websites and a range of databases, including Social Care Online, for UK based research published from 2000. The review provides an overview of the quantity and quality of the research and a table summarising the 24 studies reviewed and their key findings. It also provides a summary of areas identified for future research. The review found that the evidence around effectiveness of interventions to prevent loneliness and social isolation is patchy and findings are inconsistent. However, there is evidence to show that staff can play a key role in facilitating social networks and that activity-based interventions - such as horticulture, sport and learning - can increase social networks and reduce social isolation. The review also found that befriending may be beneficial to peoples’ mental health, but that there is inconclusive evidence on the impact of peer support. (Edited publisher abstract)
Public health transformation four years on: maximising the use of limited resources
- Author:
- LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
- Publisher:
- Local Government Association
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 63
- Place of publication:
- London
This compilation of case studies is intended to show how local authorities continue to make progress on improving health and wellbeing and tackling health inequalities since public health was formally transferred from the NHS in April 2013. Public health teams, working with a ‘Health in All Policies' approach across councils, are tackling persistent problems like adult and childhood obesity, mental illness, alcohol abuse, sexually transmitted infections and the health impact of isolation and loneliness in old age, as well as addressing some of the serious health inequalities that still exist within and between communities. These case studies aim to show what potential there is for public health, if properly resourced, to make inroads in improving health and wellbeing. The case study sites cover Birmingham City Council; Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council; Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Collaborative (Champs); London Borough of Redbridge; Redcar and Cleveland Council; Sheffield City Council; Somerset County Council; and London Borough of Tower Hamlets. (Edited publisher abstract)
"Someone cares if I'm not there": addressing loneliness in disabled people
- Author:
- SENSE
- Publisher:
- Sense
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 40
- Place of publication:
- London
This report, produced for the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, explores why loneliness affects so many people with disabilities. It looks at some of the barriers to making social connections for disabled people living with sensory impairments, learning disability, autism, physical and mobility impairment, mental health problems, dementia, head and brain injury, neurological conditions, cancer and HIV. Each section includes the perspectives of disabled people themselves. The report shows that many of the barriers to building social connections for disabled people are practical ones, such as poor access to services, inaccessible transport and venues, and financial challenges. However, social attitudes, poor levels of public understanding and awareness of disability can be a significant barrier to making connections with others. It concludes with suggested changes to help reduce the causes of loneliness and social isolation for disabled people. (Edited publisher abstract)
Promoting social capital to alleviate loneliness and improve health among older people in Spain
- Author:
- COLL-PLANAS Laura
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 25(1), 2017, pp.145-157.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Loneliness is especially frequent among older people in Southern Europe. Furthermore, promoting social capital to tackle loneliness and its health effects is an understudied intervention strategy. Therefore, a complex intervention was piloted in Spain in a pre–post study with a 2-year follow-up. Its aims were to explore the feasibility of the intervention and its short- and long-term effects. It was conducted in one mixed rural–urban and two urban areas of diverse socioeconomic levels from 2011 to 2012. The intervention framework was based on social capital theory applying a behaviour change model and care co-ordination. The intervention comprised: (i) a co-ordinated action aimed at building a network between primary healthcare centres and community assets in the neighbourhood and (ii) a group-based programme, which promoted social capital among lonely older people, especially social support and participation. Older people active in senior centres volunteered as gatekeepers. The main outcome domain was loneliness. Secondary outcome domains were participation, social support, self-perceived health, quality of life, depressive symptoms and use of health resources. Pre–post changes were assessed with t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and McNemar's test. Differences between the three time points were assessed with a one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Social workers and nurses were successfully involved as group leaders, 10 volunteers took part and 38 participants were included. After the intervention, loneliness decreased while social participation and support significantly increased. Furthermore, the number of visits to nurses increased. Exactly 65.8% of the participants built social contacts within the group and 47.4% became engaged in new activities. Two years later, social effects were maintained and depressive symptoms had decreased. Exactly 44.7% of the participants continued to be in contact with at least one person from the group and 39.5% continued participating. The intervention contributes a novel and feasible social capital-based approach for alleviating loneliness among older adults while prompting meaningful changes in their lives. (Publisher abstract)