Social isolation, social provision and friendship perception in nursing homes: a mix-method study
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction Nursing home are social environments where people who did not know each other live together. The challenge for residents is to build social relationships with other residents and professionals. This study aims to: 1. Analyse the perception of friendship from the point of view of residents and professionals. 2. Study which factors influence social isolation and social provision of residents. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 residents from 4 nursing homes and 20 professionals from 3 nursing homes and addressed issues such as the definition of friendship, the need to make new friends… The qualitative data from the interviews is currently being analysed and consists of content analyses to objectify themes and categories. Questionnaires were administered to residents to assess social isolation, social provision, cognition, anxiety and depression. Social isolation and social provision were analysed according to sex, educational level, cognitive status, anxiety and depression level. Participants gave oral consent to participate and all data was collected anonymously. ResultsThe mean age of the residents was 87.65 years old, 67.5% were women (27), 45.9% had no cognitive impairment (17) and 54.1% had mild cognitive impairment (20). There was a significant difference in social isolation score (<0.001) and social provision score (0.001) according to the degree of depression: the absence of depressive symptoms resulted in less social isolation and more social provision. The themes most frequently mentioned by residents and professionals to define friendship are complicity and sharing, support, feelings of attachment and trust.ConclusionDepressive symptoms, social isolation and social provision are associated. The perception of friendship can provide ways of giving residents the opportunity to create social bonds in nursing homes and thus reduce social isolation and depressive symptoms by increasing social provision. The aim is to promote social health of all residents, whatever their cognitive status.
Source: HAL
Institution: Psychologie des âges de la vie et adaptation
Language: English
Subfield: Geriatrics and Gerontology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7207058588