Aging and Mental Health, 22(11), 2018, pp.1486-1493.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Improving the design and targeting of interventions is important for alleviating loneliness among older adults. This requires identifying which correlates are the most important predictors of loneliness. This study demonstrates the use of recursive partitioning in exploring the characteristics and assessing the relative importance of correlates of loneliness in older adults. Method: Using exploratory regression trees and random forests, we examined combinations and the relative importance of 42 correlates in relation to loneliness at age 68 among 2453 participants from the birth cohort study the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. Results: Positive mental well-being, personal mastery, identifying the spouse as the closest confidant, being extrovert and informal social contact were the most important correlates of lower loneliness levels. Participation in organised groups and demographic correlates were poor identifiers of loneliness. The regression tree suggested that loneliness was not raised among those with poor mental wellbeing if they identified their partner as closest confidante and had frequent social contact. Conclusion: Recursive partitioning can identify which combinations of experiences and circumstances characterise high-risk groups. Poor mental wellbeing and sparse social contact emerged as especially important and classical demographic factors as insufficient in identifying high loneliness levels among older adults.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Objectives: Improving the design and targeting of interventions is important for alleviating loneliness among older adults. This requires identifying which correlates are the most important predictors of loneliness. This study demonstrates the use of recursive partitioning in exploring the characteristics and assessing the relative importance of correlates of loneliness in older adults. Method: Using exploratory regression trees and random forests, we examined combinations and the relative importance of 42 correlates in relation to loneliness at age 68 among 2453 participants from the birth cohort study the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. Results: Positive mental well-being, personal mastery, identifying the spouse as the closest confidant, being extrovert and informal social contact were the most important correlates of lower loneliness levels. Participation in organised groups and demographic correlates were poor identifiers of loneliness. The regression tree suggested that loneliness was not raised among those with poor mental wellbeing if they identified their partner as closest confidante and had frequent social contact. Conclusion: Recursive partitioning can identify which combinations of experiences and circumstances characterise high-risk groups. Poor mental wellbeing and sparse social contact emerged as especially important and classical demographic factors as insufficient in identifying high loneliness levels among older adults.
(Edited publisher abstract)
LEHANE Christine M., DAMMEYER Jesper, ELSASS Peter
Journal article citation:
Aging and Mental Health, 21(4), 2017, pp.337-347.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Previous research has shown that marital communication is key to couples' successful illness adjustment. However, little is known about couples' experiences of health conditions characterised by communication difficulties such as acquired hearing, vision, and dual-sensory loss. The aim of this review was to identify the effect of sensory loss, and associated communication difficulties, on couples' relational and psychosocial adjustment.
Method: A systematic search was conducted to identify studies investigating the social, psychological, and relational impact of sensory loss on couples.
Results: Twenty-four articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Significant heterogeneity in the measurements and design of the quantitative studies prevented statistical data synthesis. All but two studies reported some effect of sensory loss on couples' psychosocial or relational wellbeing. Higher levels of marital satisfaction were found to buffer against adverse psychological outcomes. Results of quantitative and qualitative studies were synthesised to form an integrative model illustrating the associations between sensory loss and couples' relational and psychosocial wellbeing.
Conclusions: Although this review reports an association between sensory loss and couples' relational and psychosocial wellbeing, the results should be viewed with caution given that relatively few studies on couples' experiences of acquired sensory loss exist, and many have methodological limitations.
(Publisher abstract)
Objectives: Previous research has shown that marital communication is key to couples' successful illness adjustment. However, little is known about couples' experiences of health conditions characterised by communication difficulties such as acquired hearing, vision, and dual-sensory loss. The aim of this review was to identify the effect of sensory loss, and associated communication difficulties, on couples' relational and psychosocial adjustment.
Method: A systematic search was conducted to identify studies investigating the social, psychological, and relational impact of sensory loss on couples.
Results: Twenty-four articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Significant heterogeneity in the measurements and design of the quantitative studies prevented statistical data synthesis. All but two studies reported some effect of sensory loss on couples' psychosocial or relational wellbeing. Higher levels of marital satisfaction were found to buffer against adverse psychological outcomes. Results of quantitative and qualitative studies were synthesised to form an integrative model illustrating the associations between sensory loss and couples' relational and psychosocial wellbeing.
Conclusions: Although this review reports an association between sensory loss and couples' relational and psychosocial wellbeing, the results should be viewed with caution given that relatively few studies on couples' experiences of acquired sensory loss exist, and many have methodological limitations.
(Publisher abstract)
University of Kent. European Institute of Social Services
Publication year:
1993
Pagination:
401p.
Place of publication:
Canterbury
Detailed account of social services in the twelve member states of the European Community. Contains sections on: organisation, responsibility and finance for social services; preventative services; children and families; elderly people; people with disabilities; addictions; illnesses; AIDS/HIV; socially excluded people; young people; services for migrants; names and addresses of major public and private social services agencies.
Detailed account of social services in the twelve member states of the European Community. Contains sections on: organisation, responsibility and finance for social services; preventative services; children and families; elderly people; people with disabilities; addictions; illnesses; AIDS/HIV; socially excluded people; young people; services for migrants; names and addresses of major public and private social services agencies.
Subject terms:
HIV AIDS, immigration, learning disabilities, mental health, mental health problems, older people, physical disabilities, poverty, prevention, private health care, social exclusion, social services, voluntary organisations, young people, addiction, alcohol misuse, black and minority ethnic people, children, drug misuse, families, health care;