Research Information System
12th European Public Health Conference, France, 20 - 23 November 2019
Objective:
This study was conducted to determine the relationship
between the participation of people living in the nursing
homes to social activities and their life satisfaction, social
isolation and loneliness.
Methods:
The study was performed between January 2017 and April
2018 in three nursing homes using the cross-sectional research
design. The study population consisted of 310 elderly people in
total, 118 women, 192 men, who were over 65 years of age and
had no mental and communication problems. Ninety percent
of the population was reached. The data were collected by
using a questionnaire, Standardized Mini Mental Test,
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Social Isolation Scale
(SIS) and Loneliness Scale for Elderly People (LSEP).
Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis
variance analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used
in data analysis.
Results:
The mean age of the elderly subjects was 74.10 7.57 years,
and 61.9% were male and 38.1% were female. Elderly subjects’
SWLS and LSEP scores were below the median, and their SIS
score was above the median value. Elderly people without
disabilities, who can meet their own needs, do not feel alone,
stay in the healthcare facility of their own accord, are satisfied
with the services healthcare facility and with life, do sports, go
to cinema and theater in their free time and go out more often
had high SWLS median values and low SIS and LSEP values
(p < 0,05). Examining scale correlations, a moderate and
negative correlation between SWLS and SIS (r = -,59;
p = ,000) a highly significant and negative correlation between
SWLS and LSEP (r = -,70; p = ,000) and a positive, statistically
moderately significant correlation between SIS and LSEP (r = ,
65; p = , 00) were found.
Conclusions:
Life satisfaction increases and social isolation and loneliness
decreases when elderly people living in nursing homes
participate in social activities.
Key messages:
Loneliness of elderly individuals can be reduced by
increasing participation in social activities.
Social isolation of elderly individuals can be reduced by
increasing participation in social activities.