Factors influencing loneliness among older people using homecare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Psychogeriatrics
; 23(2): 252-260, 2023 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36577404
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Elderly homecare service users may reduce their level of social participation and interpersonal interactions due to physiological loss, which may lead to loneliness and depression over the years. However, there is a lack of research on loneliness among older people who use homecare services. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing loneliness among older people using homecare services.METHODS:
This is a longitudinal study conducted in communities in Central Taiwan, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was first administered as a pre-test to obtain baseline information about the participants, and the same questionnaire was administered as a post-test after 6 months to follow-up. The pre- and post-test questionnaires included five sections, that is, participant demographics, Brief Symptom Rating Scale, Interpersonal Interaction Scale (IIS), Frenchay Activities Index, and UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA).RESULTS:
A total of 178 participants were recruited in this study. Results indicated that gender, whether participants eat alone or with others at dinner, social media use, perceived economic status, and IIS score were significantly correlated with the loneliness score on the UCLA. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the loneliness score among male participants in the low loneliness group from baseline to 6 months follow-up.CONCLUSIONS:
Gender, presence of others at dinner, social media use, perceived economic status, and interpersonal interaction skills are significant factors that influence loneliness among older people using homecare services. Men tend to experience higher levels of loneliness over time.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Loneliness
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Psychogeriatrics
Journal subject:
GERIATRIA
/
PSICOLOGIA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: