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PubMed2004

Loneliness in cancer and multiple sclerosis patients.

Loneliness is a universal social phenomenon often producing debilitating effects on many aspects of human functioning. The present study compared the qualitative aspects of loneliness in two terminally ill samples to that of a more healthy sample. 329 multiple sclerosis and 315 cancer patients, as well as 391 nonrandom healthy participants answered a 30-item questionnaire on loneliness. Analysis indicated the experience of loneliness which characterizes multiple sclerosis and cancer patients differs from that of the more healthy group.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Loneliness in children and adolescents.

Feeling lonely is a sad but relatively common experience for children, adolescents, and adults. When loneliness becomes a frequently occurring phenomenon, there are serious implications for emotional and physical well-being. The concept of loneliness can be described in relation to psychosocial development. Loneliness in children and adolescents is a relatively new research topic. In this paper the author reviews research for both age groups. Pediatric nurses should recognize the importance of identifying children and adolescents at high risk for the development of chronic loneliness. Nursing interventions for assisting the lonely child or adolescent are described briefly.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The lived experience of childhood loneliness: a phenomenological study.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of childhood loneliness from the perspective of the child. Fourteen children aged 8 to 10 years, from middle-class White families were interviewed regarding their experiences of loneliness. Data were analyzed using Spiegelberg's (1982) method of phenomenological analysis. Thematic analysis involved a search for the experiential structures that made up the experience of loneliness. Nine themes were discovered, each presenting an aspect of the phenomenon. Unhappily Disconnected was intuited as a unity of meaning for the complex and multidimensional experience of childhood loneliness. New insights and understandings of this phenomenon may enable nurses to care more sensitively for children who are lonely.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new perspective on loneliness in later life.

Loneliness in later life remains a serious problem despite extensive research across the life span. Unfortunately, most studies of loneliness that include older adults focus on individuals who are already lonely; findings suggest interventions dependent upon external factors such as socialization and functional status. Such interventions are not always feasible for older adults, who may have experienced social and functional losses. Nurses must adopt a new perspective in examining loneliness in later life. This new perspective should include a more positive approach that focuses on older adults who are not lonely even though they may have experienced decreased socialization or physical function. Identification of strategies employed by these older individuals may be used to help many elders avoid loneliness and help others cope with the related losses so frequent in later life.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

The relationship between loneliness and interpersonal trust during middle childhood.

The authors administered measures of loneliness, generalized trust beliefs in peers, and trust beliefs in specific familiar peers (i.e., opposite-gender peers, same-gender peers, close same-gender peers) to a sample of 63 children (33 girls, 30 boys) from 4th and 5th grades (M age = 10 years, 6 months). They assessed children's trusting behavior by engaging them in a Prisoner's Dilemma game (reciprocal trusting) and by evaluating teachers' ratings. The authors found that, across gender, loneliness was negatively correlated with each measure of trust beliefs and trusting behavior. As expected, the relationship between children's loneliness and trust, specifically trust beliefs in same-gender peers, was stronger for girls than for boys. In support of an additive risk model, the authors found low trust beliefs in same-gender peers and low reciprocal trusting behavior with peers each statistically contributed to loneliness in girls.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The causes of loneliness in homeless youth.

Both homelessness and loneliness are pervasive in North America. In this study, the author compared the causes of the loneliness experienced by young homeless youth (n = 113) with that of counterparts in the general population (n = 211) who answered a 30-item yes-no questionnaire. The results identified 5 causes of loneliness: personal inadequacy, developmental deficits, unfulfilling intimate relationships, relocation or significant separations, and social marginality. The results indicated that the causes of loneliness in young homeless youth are significantly different from those of the general population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The relationship between loneliness, social support, and decline in cognitive function in the hospitalized elderly.

To determine the effects of preexisting levels of loneliness and social support on cognitive decline during hospitalization, 145 elderly subjects 65 to 92 years old without impaired cognition were tested for levels of loneliness, social support, and cognitive status on admission to an acute care hospital. Five days later, cognitive status was again measured in the remaining 86 patients. Loneliness was found to be inversely related to cognitive status on admission. In those with high loneliness scores on admission, cognitive status had improved significantly 5 days later. High social support was correlated with high cognitive status on admission and significant cognitive decline during hospitalization.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Indoor gardening older adults: effects on socialization, activities of daily living, and loneliness.

This study examined the effects of indoor gardening on socialization, activities of daily living (ADLs), and perceptions of loneliness in elderly nursing home residents. A total of 66 residents from two nursing homes participated in this two-phase study. In phase one, experimental group 1 participated once a week for 5 weeks in gardening activities while a control group received a 20-minute visit. While no significant differences were found between groups in socialization or perceptions of loneliness, there were significant pretest-posttest differences within groups on loneliness and guidance, reassurance of worth, social integration, and reliable alliance. The results also demonstrated gardening interventions had a significant effect on three ADLs (transfer, eating, and toileting). Phase two examined differences in the effects of a 5-week versus a 2-week intervention program. Although no significant within-group differences were noted in socialization, loneliness, or ADLs, the 5-week program was more effective in increasing socialization and physical functioning.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

The relationship between loneliness and social interaction in women prisoners.

The increase in women prisoners is a societal issue and affects not only the woman, but also her family of origin and her children. This study did not support the hypothesis that more frequent visits from friends or family decrease loneliness, but it did support the hypothesis that the presence or absence of friends and the number of friends within the facility make a significant difference in the loneliness experienced by women prisoners. It is within the scope of nursing practice to lessen the burden of loneliness and to improve the physical and emotional health of the person by addressing the issue of loneliness.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

[The effect of the use of mobile phone text messages on freshmen's loneliness during the transition to college].

This longitudinal study investigated the extent to which the use of mobile phone text messages, including e-mail and short message service, affected freshmen's loneliness during the transition to college. A total of 83 freshmen completed measures of loneliness and social network at the beginning and end of their first semester. Perceived utility of mobile phone text messages was assessed at the beginning of the semester. Results showed that perceived functional usefulness and affiliation fulfillment of text messages affected formation of social network during the period. It was found that the higher the functional usefulness, the larger increase in the number of messages to college friends, and the higher the affiliation fulfillment, the less important the text messages to pre-college friends. Furthermore, it was noted that the more important the relationship with pre-college and college friends that was not dependent on text messages, and the fewer messages to pre-college friends, the less the loneliness. In contrast, greater importance of text messages to pre-college friends was associated with an increase in loneliness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Loneliness and the nurse manager.

Everyone has occasional bouts of loneliness. Managers may experience loneliness resulting from internal and external tensions of life and management. It is important that the manager understand the concept of loneliness and the special vulnerability managers may have to this painful feeling. Methods have been outlined for coping with loneliness and should be part of every manager's coping repertoire.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Adolescents' perceptions of aloneness and loneliness.

It is theorized that we are born with the need both to be alone and to be connected with others. Aloneness, like attachment, is seen as necessary for human growth, with loneliness being the negative extreme. Yet, can feelings of loneliness be distinguished from the need to be alone? To answer this question, the present paper reviews theories and research on loneliness and aloneness. In addition, the perceptions of adolescents are presented. They were found to be able to distinguish between the two states. Loneliness, as anticipated, was viewed negatively, being coupled with sadness and hopelessness. Aloneness was viewed as a neutral state. It is recommended that future research explore the positive dimensions of aloneness, including when adolescents choose to be alone, what they do while alone, and how they feel after being alone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Someone to talk to? The role of loneliness as a factor in the frequency of GP consultations.

BACKGROUND: There are many reasons why people frequently consult their general practitioner (GP). Although loneliness is increasingly recognized as a problem affecting well-being for elderly people, it has rarely been addressed as a predictor of frequency of consultation. AIM: To examine whether loneliness is associated with rates of GP consultations (home and surgery visits). METHOD: Analysis of data collected in face-to-face interviews at the second wave of a longitudinal health survey of two adult age cohorts living in four socially contrasting urban localities in Glasgow City. There were a total of 691 subjects: 142 males and 176 females aged 40 years at interview; and 167 males and 206 females aged 60 years at interview. Frequency of reported GP consultations in the past 12 months at home or in the surgery was examined. RESULTS: After controlling for sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables and health, loneliness was significantly associated with frequency of consultation at the surgery but not with the frequency of home visits. CONCLUSION: Loneliness may still be underestimated as a factor related independently to frequency of consultations with a GP at the surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Assessing the loneliness of workers with mental retardation.

This study was designed to determine whether a reliable instrument could be developed to measure the loneliness experienced by workers with mental retardation. In addition, supervisors were asked to rate subjects on loneliness and four other behavioral subtypes in order to determine whether there was a relation between these ratings and the loneliness questionnaire. Three groups of subjects were assessed: persons with mild, moderate, and severe mental retardation. Results indicated that the Worker Loneliness Questionnaire was a reliable instrument for use with persons with mild and moderate mental retardation. In addition, the results showed that some individuals were lonely; however, this was not a pervasive feeling. The implications for measuring the self-perceptions of individuals with mental retardation were discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Home visits to the elderly in Leiden: an investigation into the effect on loneliness].

In this article the research results are presented of the pilot intervention project 'Elderly support home visits'. The aim of this experiment was to reduce loneliness among older persons who make use of extramural care. The intervention was accompanied by quantitative effect measurements, followed by a qualitative study of the process. To determine the effectiveness of the intervention, data on loneliness were collected among those persons who have made use of the welfare services (the experimental group) and those who were not interested in these services (the control group) on three different times: during the first home visit and approximately six and twelve months later. The main finding is that the intervention did not lead to a substantial reduction in the loneliness score in the experimental group. Feelings of loneliness among the participants did reduce, but this decline was small and not significant and did not continue in the long-term. The process evaluation suggests some explanations for this result. This article concludes with the limitations of the research design and suggestions for improvement of the intervention.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

The relationship of loneliness, social isolation, and physical health to dietary adequacy of independently living elderly.

This study evaluated the dietary adequacy of elderly individuals to determine whether factors such as loneliness, social isolation, or physical health were related to nutrient intake. The participants (n = 61) were independently living individuals aged 60 to 94 years recruited through senior citizen centers, residential housing areas, and social agencies in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Three-day food records were used to collect dietary data, and nutrient intakes were compared with the 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances. Three-day social contact diaries were used to measure frequency of interaction with others. The Physical Health Questionnaire was used to evaluate subjectively the number and severity of disease states, and the loneliness index was computed using the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Energy and calcium were most likely to be underconsumed, and poor physical health was related to decreased intakes of vitamin A and ascorbic acid. Loneliness was related to dietary inadequacies. We recommend emphasis on education and services to provide home-delivered meals and groceries as well as affordable convenience foods of high nutrient density to enable older individuals to achieve adequate nutrient intake while maintaining an independent life-style.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1990

[Loneliness among young people: collation of writings].

Contrary to the popular belief that loneliness is typically associated with adults, and especially with older persons, this state can occur early in life. In fact, an increasing number of studies indicate that an important proportion of adolescents experience an intense episode of loneliness. This literature review describes loneliness among younger persons. We discuss the ampleness of the problem, the definition of the phenomenon, the feeling associated with loneliness, precipitating and predisposating factors and, finally, coping strategies to deal with this experience.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Loneliness, coping strategies and cognitive styles of the gifted rural adolescent.

Loneliness, coping, and cognitive styles of 52 gifted adolescents from rural Nebraska were investigated via Woodward Loneliness and Kalyan-Masih Coping Inventories and Witkin's Group Embedded Figures Test. Fifty-one percent of the adolescents had a mean loneliness score above 2.60, which is the third highest among the 16 Nebraska groups studied. They were most lonely when rejected, alienated, isolated, and not in control of a situation. Most frequently, their coping strategies were: engaging in individual pursuits, extending social contacts, using cognitive reframing, and keeping busy. Less frequently, their strategies were: engaging in religious activities, seeking adult help, and using negative escape routes. The gifted adolescents were divided into field independent (FI) and field dependent (FD) according to their cognitive style. Some differences were noted. The FI adolescents were more lonely in a crowd, but the FD adolescents were more lonely when not with others. The FI adolescents engaged in individual pursuits and cognitive reframing, and the FD adolescents resorted to religious and physical activities or professional help as coping strategies. The FI adolescents showed more autonomy and self-reliance, while the FD adolescents relied more on external sources of support when coping with loneliness. Implications for counseling in home and school are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗