Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 5 of 5
Change and stability in loneliness and friendship after an intervention for older women
- Authors:
- MARTINA Camille M.S., STEVENS Martin, WESTERHOF Gerben J.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(3), 2018, pp.435-454.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study examines patterns of change and stability in loneliness among 108 women who had participated in a friendship enrichment programme during the year after the programme. Seven groups of participants in which different levels of loneliness significantly declined, remained stable or increased were identified. These were reduced to the following groups: those recovered, significantly improved and not improved. The authors then examined whether resources such as age, education, partner status, health, initially available friendships and developments in friendships were related to these loneliness patterns. The data were collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews, a loneliness scale and the personal convoy model. The results indicate that none of the demographic characteristics, nor health, were associated with the patterns of loneliness. Friendship availability and development did differ among the groups. Recovery from loneliness after a year was associated with the presence of a friend in the outer circle of the convoy and having more variation in one's friendships initially and one year later. It was also associated with the presence of a friend in the inner circle and reporting improvement in friendship later. The absence of these qualities initially or subsequently was more characteristic of those whose loneliness was stable or increased. Thus, the maintenance of companionate friendship and the development of intimacy in one's friendships seem advantageous for recovery from loneliness. While this study illustrates that recovery from, and significant reduction of loneliness are possible, we are not yet able to predict who will benefit and who will not benefit from a friendship enrichment programme. (Publisher abstract)
Meeting the need to belong: predicting effects of a friendship enrichment program for older women
- Authors:
- STEVENS Nan L., MARTINA Camille M.S., WESTERHOF Gerben J.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 46(4), August 2006, pp.495-502.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study explores the effects of participation in a program designed to enrich friendship and reduce loneliness among women in later life in the Netherlands. Several hypotheses based on the need to belong, socioemotional selectivity theory, and the social compensation model were tested. Study 1 involved two measurement points, one at the end of the program and the other 1-year later. Study 2 used a pretest–post-test control group design with a follow-up measurement. A combination of semistructured interviews and structured questionnaires was used to collect data. A comparison group was also drawn from a nationwide representative sample. Participants were characterized by deprivation on the need to belong; that is, loss of a partner, higher levels of loneliness and negative affect, and lower positive affect compared with a nationwide representative sample of same-aged women. Participants were more likely than women in a control group to report the development of new friendships and an improvement in friendship. The combination of new and improved friendships contributed to a significant reduction in loneliness within a year. There was no evidence of satiation of the need to belong among those who did not expand or improve friendships. Loss of a partner had no influence on friendship development; however, age did. Older participants were less likely to improve friendships. The action-oriented approach that focused on friendship development in this intervention might be applied to other goals considered important in later life (optimal health, autonomy, harmonious family relations).
Promotion of self-management in friendship
- Authors:
- MARTINA Camilla M. S., STEVENS Nan L., WESTERHOF Gerben J.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(1-2), January 2012, pp.245-253.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Maintenance of friendships requires the willingness and the ability to invest time and energy in friendship. The aim of this study was to examine changes in self-management abilities among women in a friendship enrichment programme. The friendship enrichment programme consists of 12 lessons focused on different topics related to friendship such as expectations in friendship, self-esteem as a basis for friendship, making new friends, setting goals and boundaries, and solving conflicts in friendship. The hypothesis was that the participants in the programme would demonstrate increases in self-management abilities in friendship, specifically in terms of self-efficacy, taking initiative, investment behaviour, and attaining variety in friendship resources. An intervention group of 60 women who completed the programme were compared to a control group of 55 women. Interviews were conducted with the women before the programme, immediately after the programme, and then 6 months later. The results indicate that the programme is effective in stimulating 2 of the 4 self-management abilities. The participants in the intervention showed greater increases in initiative taking and more investment behaviour in friendship. However, there was no change in self-efficacy or variety in friendship.
Improvement in personal meaning mediates the effects of a life review intervention on depressive symptoms in a randomized controlled trial
- Authors:
- WESTERHOF Gerben J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 50(4), August 2010, pp.541-549.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study investigated the impact of a life review intervention on personal meaning in life and the mediating effect of personal meaning on depressive symptoms as the primary outcome of this form of indicated prevention. A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 83 older people obtaining life review compared to 88 watching a video about the art of growing older. Measurements took place before and after the intervention as well as at a 6 month follow-up. Findings revealed that those who followed life review initially improved in personal meaning more than those in the control group, although at follow-up the difference was no longer significant. Improvements in meaning during the intervention predicted decreases in depressive symptoms later in time and mediated the effects of the programme on depressive symptoms. The authors concluded that personal meaning is important in contemporary society, which some older people find difficult to achieve. The findings show that it is possible to support older people in their search for meaning by means of life review and that this helps in alleviating depressive symptoms.
Intentions to seek (preventive) psychological help among older adults: an application of the theory of planned behaviour
- Authors:
- WESTERHOF Gerben J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(3), May 2008, pp.317-322.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The study is carried out from the theory of planned behaviour and distinguishes attitudes (psychological openness), subjective norms (indifference to stigma), and perceived behavioural control (help-seeking propensity) in explaining behavioural intentions with regard to seeking preventive and therapeutic psychological help. One hundred and sixty seven Dutch adults between 65 and 75 years of age filled out a questionnaire measuring these concepts. Results found older adults have low intentions to seek professional help for psychological problems. Their intentions to use preventive help are somewhat higher. Older adults are rather indifferent to stigma and they perceive control, but they are less open to professional help when it comes to their own person. Regression analyses revealed that psychological openness and help-seeking propensity are related to intentions to seek preventive and therapeutic help.