Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-37). Also available via the Internet from the Humboldt Digital Scholar web site.

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Bakgrund: Ensamhetskänslor i den senare delen av livet är ett hot mot det fysiska, psykiska och sociala välbefinnandet med allvarliga konsekvenser, vilket leder till betydande hälsoproblem med konsekvenser för social utestängning, sjuklighet, minskat välbefinnande och dödsrisk. Denna kvalitativa studie genomfördes för att skapa mer förståelse, inblick och erfarenhet hos vårdpersonal angående äldres hälsa som är påverkad av ensamhetskänslor. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva upplevelser av ensamhet och dess påverkan på hälsan hos äldre personer.                                                       Metod: Kvalitativ litteraturöversikt med induktiv ansats. Studien bygger på tio vetenskapliga artiklar där alla artiklar kvalitetsgranskas, sedan analyserades och sammanställdes för att svara på studiens syfte.                                                            Resultat: Studiens resultat grundar sig i tre olika huvudkategorier och åtta underkategorier. Upplevelse av ensamhet med underkategorierna; Ensamhet till följd av förlust, Ensamhet skapar oro och rädsla, Ensamhet som njutning. Påverkan på hälsan med underkategorierna; Psykiska konsekvenser, Fysiska konsekvenser, Sociala konsekvenser och Sjuksköterskans betydelse med underkategorierna; Främja hälsan, Uppmärksamma ensamhetskänslor.  Slutsats: Studiens resultat påvisade att ensamhetskänslor hos äldre är ett hälsoproblem. Ensamheten kan uppstå av olika faktorer i samband med åldrandet. Äldre personer är extra utsatta och ensamhetskänslor har negativ påverkan på hälsa samt negativa känslor i kroppen. Det är viktigt att vårdpersonal uppmärksamma patienternas tecken på försämrad hälsa, och för informationen vidare så att anpassade insatser kan sättas in.

In the present study, we used a top-down approach to examine perfectionism and loneliness as additive sociocognitive predictors of depressive and anxious symptoms in a sample of 121 Latina college students. Consistent with expectations, we found perfectionism and loneliness to be associated with both depressive and anxious symptoms. In addition, results of conducting hierarchical regression analyses indicated that certain dimensions of perfectionism, especially doubts about actions, accounted for significant variance in both depressive and anxious symptoms. Moreover, the inclusion of loneliness as a predictor was found to predict additional unique variance in both depressive and anxious symptoms beyond what was accounted for by perfectionism. Implications of the present findings for future research on negative affective conditions in Latinas are discussed.

In the present study, we examined loneliness and negative life events as predictors of suicide risk (viz., hopelessness and suicidal behaviors) in a sample of 160 Hispanic adults. Consistent with expectations, we found loneliness and negative life events to be positively associated with both hopelessness and suicidal behaviors. In addition, results of conducting hierarchical regression analyses indicated that loneliness accounted for significant amounts of variance in both measures of suicide risk, ranging from 24% to 29% of the variance. The inclusion of negative life events as a predictor was found to account for additional unique variance in hopelessness (3%), but not in suicidal behaviors, beyond what was predicted by loneliness. Finally, consistent with a diathesis-stress model, the Loneliness × Negative Life Events interaction was found to account for an additional 3% of the variance in both suicide risk measures. Implications of the present findings for future research on suicide risk in Hispanics are discussed.

Purpose: The concept of aging at home is one that has seen massive gains in popularity amongst older adults in the last few years, especially with the advent of technologies that help them maintain autonomy and functional independence. However, in order to support such an endeavor and ensure the safety and well-being of older adults who choose to partake, an analysis of the concept of home and its many facets should be explored, including its relationship with technology. The aim of this research was to develop a model of the relationship between wellness technology and experiences of home for older persons and examine the role of loneliness (as an important component of wellness) in this relationship. The project addressed the following research questions: (i) Does technology influence experiences of loneliness in older adults? (ii) How does loneliness affect an older adult's experience of home? Methods: A mixed methods study was used that included Go-Along interviews with 15 older adults receiving services from a unique, older adult centered facility in Ottawa, the Perley Rideau. Services at the Perley Rideau include but are not limited to providing short term care, long term care, as well as independent senior living apartments. Participants completed a number of scales that assessed their attitudes towards technology as well as their levels of loneliness. After conducting an initial round of interviews, participants were introduced to a wellness technology called WellAssistTM. They were asked to use the technology for a period of three months after which an exit interview was conducted. The exit interview included an additional Go-Along interview, a loneliness assessment, and administration of the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) to examine the user's perceptions about the effects from using the WellAssistTM. Twelve participants completed the exit interview. Results: The pre and post intervention analysis of the UCLA Loneliness scale showed a statistically significant decrease in loneliness scores with increased usage of the wellness technology, WellAssistTM. The thematic analysis of our interviews showed that loneliness affected the experience of home in the following way(s); diminished connection to home and feelings of home which negatively impacted the older adult's overall experience of home. Discussion: The findings suggest that wellness technology can have an impact on the older adults' experience of home by reducing loneliness and improving their overall state of wellness. Further research is needed to explore how such results would carry over onto larger sample populations as well as to explore the direct of relationship between technology that promotes wellness and the older adult's experience of home.

Previous studies suggest there are numerous benefits of horticultural therapy programs. The current study explored the benefits of a horticultural therapy program with elderly populations at two facilities in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Fifteen participants attended a 2-hour session on horticulture techniques once a week for four weeks. Using a pretest to posttest study design, changes in participants’ cognition, quality of life, and loneliness were assessed. The pretest was administered verbally by the researcher before the first session and the posttest, including a series of questions about satisfaction with the program, was administered after the last session. Items on each assessment included the Mini-Mental State Exam, the Assessment of Quality of Life, and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Findings suggest that participants’ cognitive ability significantly improved after participation in the program while quality of life and loneliness perception did not significantly improve. Participants perceived the program as positive and enjoyable.

This bachelor's thesis aimed to analyze how Swedish people going through solitude join support groups online and how they classified themselves on the big five model (shortened FFM) and if there are certain factors that lay a role in who decides to join the support group(s) online. By joining the support groups on social media forums and recruiting participants from within, the participants were able to fill out an online form where they could fill in how they classified themselves on every factor of the big five model with points ranging from 1-5. The main result showed that participants from support groups for lonely people reported significantly higher levels of Agreeableness compared to other factors. Also the levels of Openness were higher than Extraversion.

I en ny kontext där en berövas på sin vanliga sociala interaktion kan ensamhetskänslor uppstå. Att få barn är en annan omställning som kan ge ensamhetskänslor. Vad händer i mötespunkten av dessa två faktorer som kan leda till ensamhetskänslor? Och hur hanterar män dessa känslor? Genom semistrukturerade intervjuer har åtta män mellan 26 och 40 år delat med sig av sina upplevelser av ensamhet under föräldraledighet. Majoriteten av männen upplevde ensamhet under sin föräldraledighet i någon grad. Med tre teman som ”mäns upplevda ensamhet”, ”barncentrerat tänk” och ”copingstrategier” samt 11 underteman besvarar studien mer ingående hur män upplever ensamhet och hanterar dessa känslor under sin föräldraledighet. Det finns variation i hur mycket männen upplever ensamhet, vissa av männen känner sig exkluderade vid aktiviteter som mammaträning och brist på föräldrastöd från barnhälsovården. Gemensamt för männen är hur livet fått en annan meningsfullhet med barn och barnets bästa ligger ofta i fokus. / In a new context, where one is deprived of their regular social interactions, feelings of loneliness may occur. Having children is another adjustment that can lead to feelings of loneliness. What happens when these two factors meet? Through semi structured interviews eight men between the ages of 26 and 40 shared their experiences of loneliness during their parental leaves. The majority of the men experienced feelings of loneliness to some degree. Through the three themes "mens perceived loneliness", "child centered thinking" and "coping strategies" in addition to eleven sub-themes, the study provides more detailed information on how men experience and handle feelings of loneliness while on parental leave. There are variations to what extent the men experience loneliness. A common denominator for all the men is the feeling that life has a different meaning after having children, and that the childs best interest is the main focus.

This study investigates how existential connectedness and pet attachment influence loneliness in pet owners. Existential connectedness is a relatively new concept that further explains the relationship between loneliness and pet attachment. Participants completed the Existential Isolation Questionnaire, the Lexington Attachment to Pet Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale in order to explore whether higher attachment to a pet is related to decreased loneliness among pet owners with low existential connectedness. Participants with low existential connectedness and high pet attachment to a personal pet of their own had significantly lower loneliness scores than those participants with low existential connectedness and low pet attachment. The participants with high existential connectedness had lower levels of loneliness overall and showed no difference in loneliness scores between low and high pet attachment. This study advances the understanding of the complicated relationship between pet ownership and loneliness in pet owners.