Involuntary loneliness is today considered to be a public health problem, and studies show that feeling lonely can have major negative effects on one's health. Project Omtanke and the social administration in Helsingborg has mapped a big problem with loneliness in Helsingborg, and has come to the conclusion that they need a website with the purpose of mitigating loneliness. Thus, this research project explores how a website should be designed to make people feel less lonely.  This thesis essay explores the research question with the approach Research Through Design (RtD). The research was conducted by conducting user research, creating a prototype and validating the design with users.  This thesis has come to the conclusion that a website with the purpose of supporting lonely individuals should include content providing help and support to all relevant target groups, such as educational content and help alternatives. It should also be designed with the goal to decrease the gap between available help and the people in need of help, by increasing awareness and reassuring personal relevance of available help. The website should also include functions that promote social contact between people, and be designed with the goal of being perceived as inclusive. The website prototype that was created in this thesis was well received by potential users. The users expressed in the validation of the website that they would like to use it, and that they believe it could help them with their loneliness.

Bakgrund: Psykiatrisk tvångsvård är per definition en motsättning till upplevd autonomi då valet att vårdas inte tas av patienten. Alla patienter har enligt lag rätt till god och säker vård på lika villkor oavsett vårdform. För att kunna stärka autonomi och främja delaktighet hos psykiatriskt tvångsvårdade patienter behöver hälso-och sjukvårdspersonal inneha kunskap om vad som upplevs som delaktighet enligt denna patientgrupp.   Syfte: Studiens syfte var att belysa patienters erfarenhet av delaktighet under sluten psykiatrisk tvångsvård. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en kvalitativ litteraturstudie och är baserad på åtta artiklar som svarade upp mot studiens syfte. Litteraturstudien genomfördes i tre databaser: PubMed, CINAHL och PsycINFO. Resultat: Patienter upplevde psykiatrisk tvångsvård som traumatisk vilket står i vägen för delaktighet. För att uppleva delaktighet behöver patienten ha tillgång till valmöjligheter och information. Patientens psykiska ohälsa kan stå i vägen för upplevd autonomi och delaktighet. Bemötandet från hälso-och sjukvårdspersonal är även det en avgörande faktor som antingen kan skapa möjlighet för delaktighet eller fungera som ett hinder. Konklusion: Att känna sig autonom trots psykiatrisk tvångsvård skapar möjlighet för delaktighet. Detta möjliggörs av flexibelt och tillitsfullt bemötande av vårdpersonal som tillgängliggör information och valmöjligheter.

The purpose of my study is to investigate how the meeting place's staff’s in a municipality in Halland County, handles the loneliness of the elderly and their needs to activities, and how the meeting place works to prevent involuntary loneliness. I have used a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews. I have interviewed 6 people at different meeting places in the municipalities. In the results section, i have analyzed through the theories used in the study. These theories are the activity theory, the disengagement theory, sense of context and the role theory as the used both by Goffman (2009) and Tornstam (2018). My conclusion is that staff work has a contribution with a description of how meeting places in the municipality handle the loneliness of the elderly and their need for activity and social interaction. The job description in the meeting places has been a central part of the study to shed light on whether it is in line with informal working methods of the stuff, but also based on the used theories in the study. I have tried to shed light with this study on the staff's work in meeting places about the loneliness of the elderly and their need for activities.

Downsizing, realignment, and closure of military bases have forced many low-skilled, blue-collar federal employees into involuntary job loss and job transition. The impact of involuntary job loss on blue-collar workers has been linked to stress and other adverse psychological effects. There is gap in the literature regarding the lived experiences of federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was to examine lived experiences of job loss and job transition for federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. Schlossberg's transition theory provided a conceptual framework for the study. Ten ex-federal blue-collar employees were recruited through purposeful sampling and interviewed using a semistructured interview strategy. The modified Moustakas and Stevick-Coliazzi-Keen method of analysis was used to analyze the data and report emergent themes. The following 7 themes emerged from the data: transition was associated with negative feelings, employer was unprepared for transition process, support provided by employer, emotional support from family and significant others, engaged in other activities, accepted the transition process, and drew motivation from family. The findings from this study may contribute to positive social change by providing important information that human resource managers, industrial/organizational psychologists, and government agencies can use to advocate for the need for developing programs that support civilian job transition services to individuals who are affected by federal downsizing.

SAMMANFATTNING Bakgrund: Ett par som önskar bli gravida, och som under minst ett år med upprepade oskyddade samlag inte lyckats bli gravida, benämns som infertila. Av alla dessa par beräknas tio till femton procent vara infertila. Orsakerna till infertiliteten kan vara många och ligga hos både mannen och kvinnan, ålder och livsstilsfaktorer anses vara viktiga bidragande orsaker. Endast tjugofem till femtio procent av de par som är infertila och söker behandling får uppleva den efterlängtade förlossningen. Det är inte ovanligt att kvinnor i denna situation drabbas av en livskris. Barnmorskan har en stödjande roll i samband med det infertila parets behandlingsprocess. Syfte: Syftet med detta arbete var att belysa kvinnors upplevelser av den sociala och psykiska påverkan som den ofrivilliga barnlösheten kan medföra, samt hur de hanterar dessa upplevelser. Metod: Den metod som valts för detta arbete är en litteraturöversikt. Arbetet baserades på 15 vetenskapliga artiklar publicerade 2005- 2015. För att finna material gjordes artikelsökningar i olika databaser. De valda artiklarna granskades enligt Sophiahemmets Högskolas riktlinjer för kvalitetsgranskning. Artiklarna lästes upprepade gånger och med hjälp av understrykningar i texten kunde relevant information delas in under tre olika rubriker som svarade på studiens syfte och frågeställningar. Resultat: Resultatet har delats in i tre huvudrubriker vilka är; Kvinnors upplevelser av den psykiska påverkan, Kvinnors upplevelser av den sociala påverkan och Att hantera den nya livssituationen. Slutsats: Kvinnornas upplevelser av den psykisk påverkan kan beskrivas med många ord, men de känslor som ofta återkommer är skuld, skam, sorg, förlust av självkänsla, stress, ångest och depression. Kvinnornas upplevelser av den social påverkan beskrivs oftast som isolering och stigmatisering. Kvinnor hanterar den nya livssituationen på olika sätt, men det viktigaste är att ha en aktiv och medveten strategi.

Bakgrund: Inom den psykiatriska heldygnsvården arbetar många grundutbildadesjuksköterskor med omvårdnad som profession. Trygghet, säkerhet och integritetär begrepp som kan hjälpa till att utforma den personcentrerade omvårdnaden somkrävs för ett adekvat tillfrisknande. Trots att dessa ord är välkända inom vårdenrapporterar patienter att det inom den psykiatriska heldygnsvården blir bemötta påett otidsenligt sätt, vilket blir motsägelsefullt och lämnar frågetecken. Därförbehöver patientens egna röst få ta mer plats. Tvångsvården har en betydande roll iakuta situationer när någon exempelvis riskerar att skada sig själv eller intemedverkar till behandling i öppenvård. Syfte: Att belysa patienters upplevelser avtvångsvård. Metod: En litteraturstudie gjordes med innehåll av 10 kvalitativavetenskapliga artiklar som framtagits genom litteratursökningar från databasernaCinahl, PubMed och PsycInfo. Resultat: Två huvudkategorier identifierades: Attvårdas mot sin vilja som resulterade i två underkategorier: När vården togs medacceptans samt negativ syn på vården. Vårdrelationens betydelse blev den andrahuvudkategorin och resulterade i fem underkategorier: En känsla av att tappakontrollen, bemötande, önskan om delaktighet, önskan om information samtönskan om att bli sedd som en människa. Konklusion: Patienterna behövde tidför att skaffa sig insikt i deras egna vårdbehov, men en förståelse för tvångsvårdenväxte till sist fram hos de flesta patienter. Önskan om att få bli mer delaktig i sinegna vård menade patienterna kunde bidra till en mer positiv upplevelse avtvångsvården. Patienter upplevde det problematiskt när de inte fick möjlighet tillen god vårdrelation som främjade goda kontakter. Så fort patienten är i tillståndför en övergång till frivillig vård borde detta ske för att minska den negativaupplevelsen och främja patientens självbestämmande. / Background: Within psychiatric inpatient care many newly graduated nurseswork with nursing as a profession. Safety, security, and integrity are concepts thatcan help shape the person-centered care required for adequate recovery. Despitethe fact that these words are well known in healthcare, patients report that in theround-the-clock psychiatric care they are treated in an old-fashioned way, whichbecomes contradictory and leaves question marks. Therefore, the patients’ ownvoice needs to be given more space. Coercion care has a significant role in acutesituations when, for example, someone is in a risk of harming themselves or doesnot participate in treatment in outpatient care. Aim: To illustrate patients'experiences of involuntary treatment. Method: A literature study was conductedwith the content of 10 qualitative scientific articles produced through literaturesearches from the databases Cinahl, PubMed and PsycInfo. Results: Two maincategories were identified: Being cared for against one's will, which resulted intwo subcategories: When the care was taken with acceptance and a negative viewof the care. The meaning of the relationship within the care became the secondmain category and resulted in five subcategories: A feeling of losing control,treatment in health care, a wish for participation, a wish for information and awish to be seen as a human being. Conclusion: The patients needed time to gaininsight into their own care needs, but an understanding of coercion care eventuallyemerged in most patients. The wish to be more involved in their own care meantthe patients could contribute to a more positive experience of coercion care.Patients found it problematic when they didn’t have the opportunity for a goodrelationship with their caregivers that promoted good contacts. As soon as thepatient is in a condition for a transition to voluntary care this should take place toreduce the negative experience and promote the patients' autonomy.

Involuntary celibacy, or incel, as a phenomenon is steadily growing. Previous studies show that this group suffers from severe mental illness, which potentially could develop into something dangerous for both themselves and society. Research regarding early interventions and methods which are specifically aimed at and designed for incels and their problems are currently almost non-existing. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate whether incels seek support from the social work interventions to get help with mental illness and their destructive thoughts and feelings. Thus, we want to gain a deeper understanding of incels’ attitude towards seeking help.  This qualitative study is based on concealed netnographic observations on two open incel-forums. Furthermore, this study uses a thematic analysis method, which was used to analyze our empirical material. During our observations we have identified repetitions, local expressions and similarities and differences, which have been developed into different main themes and subthemes. Additionally, our empirical material was analyzed by using theories of social identity, group polarization, and the concept of preventive social work.  The results of the present study demonstrate that the majority of incels have a negative attitude towards seeking help. Moreover, some incels believe that it is possible to improve themselves. The main opinion, however, is that it is not possible to improve, and thus, incels are doomed to live a life in solitude where the only way out is suicide. Several incels have ideas and thoughts about how the help should be designed, but these thoughts are often very extreme and often contain a negative view of women and sexually successful men. In the end, it is incels’ reluctance that weighs the heaviest, where society, women and sexually successful men are considered evil and incels are considered good.

Bakgrund I takt med att den äldre befolkningen ökar, ökar även antalet äldre över 65 år som upplever ensamhet. Idag anses ofrivillig ensamhet utgöra ett folkhälsoproblem med bland annat en ökad dödlighet hos de drabbade. Sjuksköterskans arbete kan ha en betydande roll för att minska den äldres ensamhet med personcentrerad vård, hänsyn till den äldres resurser och behov för att främja en meningsfull vardag. Utifrån detta behövs kunskap sammanställas inom området för att förbättra kunskapen kring åtgärder som förbättrar den sociala situationen samt syftar till att minska ofrivillig ensamhet hos äldre personer boende i ordinärt boende. Känsla av sammanhang, KASAM, kan fungera som en skyddsfaktor mot ensamhet och har därför valts som teoretisk utgångspunkt för denna litteraturöversikt. Syfte Syftet var att beskriva de omvårdnadsåtgärder som syftar till att minska upplevelsen av ofrivillig ensamhet hos äldre i ordinärt boende. Metod En icke-systematisk litteraturöversikt genomfördes baserat på 18 artiklar av både kvantitativ, kvalitativ och mixad metod. Artiklarna inhämtades från databaserna CINAHL och PubMed och genomgick en kvalitetsgranskning. Genom en integrerad analys sammanställdes resultatet av artiklarna. Resultat Resultatet visade på flera interventioner som hade positiv effekt på att minska ofrivillig ensamhet hos äldre. De mest framträdande interventionerna ämnade att minska äldre personers upplevelse av ensamhet var gruppaktiviteter, sällskapsdjur, volontärarbete, digitala hjälpmedel och individuellt stöd. Dessa visade sig vara effektiva vid ett personcentrerat förhållningssätt och betonar kombinerade omvårdnadsåtgärder för att få en bestående minskning av ensamheten. Rörelsebegränsningar, hälsotillstånd och graden upplevd ensamhet visade sig vara faktorer som påverkade interventionens effektivitet. Slutsats Denna litteraturöversikt erbjuder insiktsfulla perspektiv och påvisar vikten av att integrera presenterade omvårdnadsåtgärder i omsorgen av äldre för att minska ofrivillig ensamhet som är ett ökande samhällsproblem i åldersgruppen. Genom att integrera KASAM i omvårdnaden av de äldre och tillämpa en holistisk och personcentrerad vård kan insatser riktas därefter för att minska ofrivillig ensamheten hos äldre / Background As the elderly population increases, so does the number of seniors experiencing loneliness. Today, involuntary loneliness is considered a public health issue associated with increased mortality among those affected. Nurses play a significant role in addressing the loneliness of the elderly through person-centered care, consideration of the individual's abilities and needs to promote a meaningful daily life. Based on this, knowledge needs to be compiled in the field to enhance understanding of measures that improve the social situation and which aims to reduce involuntary loneliness for elderly individuals. A sense of coherence, SOC, can act as a protective factor against loneliness and has therefore been chosen as the theoretical framework for this literature review. Aim The purpose was to highlight nursing interventions aimed to reduce the experience of involuntary loneliness among older adults living in ordinary housing. Method A non-systematic review was conducted based on 18 articles using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. The articles were retrieved from CINAHL and PubMed databases and underwent a quality review. The results of the articles were compiled through an integrated analysis. Results The results revealed several interventions that had a positive effect on reducing involuntary loneliness among older adults. The most prominent interventions aiming to reduce the experience of loneliness in older individuals were group activities, companion animals, volunteer work, digital aids and individual support. These were found to be effective with a person-centered approach and emphasize combined nursing measures for a lasting reduction of loneliness. Factors such as limited mobility, health conditions and the degree of perceived loneliness were found to influence the effectiveness of the different interventions. Conclusions This review provides insightful perspectives and emphasizes the importance of integrating the presented nursing interventions in the care of elderly to reduce involuntary loneliness, an escalating societal issue within this age group. By incorporating the theory Sense of Coherence into the care of elderly and implementing a holistic and person-centered approach, efforts can be directed and effectively reduce involuntary loneliness among older individuals.

A total of 58 percent of elderly individuals receiving elderly care report experiencing loneliness, as indicated by the National Board of Health and Welfare's annual survey focused on this demographic. Regardless of the adverse effects of loneliness on health, addressing and acknowledging involuntary loneliness is crucial, given its potential to cause discomfort and diminish the wellbeing of the elderly. The objective of this study is to explore how aid officers, through conversations with the elderly, identify and address loneliness among this population. Additionally, the study aims to understand the actions aid workers take upon recognizing loneliness. The goal is to determine whether aid officers' perceptions of loneliness in the elderly are linked to various interventions provided by social services for this demographic. The research questions focus on how aid officers observe and address feelings of involuntary loneliness in the elderly, the nature of the needs assessment conducted by aid officers regarding these feelings, and the types of interventions offered to address loneliness among the elderly. The study adopts a qualitative approach, involving interviews with four aid officers from the Health Care and Care Administration. These aid officers are responsible for approving interventions, including social care for the elderly. The theoretical framework for interpreting the findings encompasses the activity theory and continuity theory. The results and analysis indicate that aid officers individually recognize and address loneliness in the elderly. However, they operate within common guidelines and templates, particularly in the context of social interventions where loneliness plays a role in the assessment for granting social interventions.

Providing mental health care to involuntary mental health care users (MHCUs) is challenging and an ethical adversity nurses often have to deal with. The literature, in general, indicates that nurses might possess coping and resiliency in the work environment where they are often faced with adversities. However there is a paucity of information regarding the resilience of nurses providing mental health care (MHC) to involuntary MHCUs. Therefore the research objectives explored the resilience of nurses using the Connor-Davidson scale (CD-RISC), to explore and describe how nurses cope and strengthen their resilience in providing MHC to involuntary MHCUs and to formulate guidelines to strengthen the resilience of these nurses to provide quality nursing care in the work environment where MHCUs are often involuntarily admitted. To achieve these objectives, the research followed both a qualitative and quantitative approach and an exploratory and descriptive design which was contextual in nature. A convenience sampling method was used to achieve a sample size of 28 participants, who were handed questionnaires to complete, containing demographical information, the CD-RISC and a narrative. A response rate of 85.7% was reached. Quantitative data was analysed by using the SPSS programme while data from narratives, for the qualitative data, were grouped and themed. The results in the first phase indicated that resiliency was high amongst participants, as the mean score of the CD-RISC was 79.9 out of a total score of 100; whilst only one participant scored below 50. The mean for the highest scores was on item 25 (pride in your achievements) (3.8) and item 10 (best effort no matter what) (3.6) and two critical aspects which scored low were item 18 (make unpopular or difficult decisions) and item 19 (can handle unpopular feelings) (2.3) amongst participants. Interestingly, the majority of participants (66.7%) do not have training in psychiatric nursing. In the second phase, two themes were identified from the questions. The first theme “Coping mechanisms” identified four methods to cope with involuntary MHCUs. These subthemes are “support system”, “knowledge, skills and experience”, “nurse-patient relationship” and “spirituality and selfcare”. The second theme “Resilience strategies” brought forth five subthemes as follows: “support”, “trained staff”, “security measures and safety”, “teamwork” and “in-service training and education”. Conclusions suggest that nurses are resilient to provide MHC for involuntary MHCUs. Furthermore, they take pride in their achievements and have passion for their work. On the contrary, they find it difficult to make unpopular decisions which affect others and to handle unpleasant feelings. This is indicative of internal conflict and difficulty in being assertive. Nurses take pride in their achievements and want to give nursing care that’s in the best interest of the MHCUs whilst they feel that they might not always be able to do so due to the involuntary nature of the MHCUs admission and treatment. Recommendations for nursing practice, namely guidelines to strengthen the resilience of nurses providing mental health care to involuntary MHCUs could be developed from the research findings. Facilitating assertiveness and a supportive environment might strengthen resilience and should be addressed by management and supervisors. Recommendations for nursing education and further research were also formulated. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015