The Impact of Loneliness on the Mental Health of the Elderly : Literature Review
Numbisi, Paula-Christy; Chepkirui, Nancy (2015)
Numbisi, Paula-Christy
Chepkirui, Nancy
Yrkeshögskolan Arcada
2015
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015121520803
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015121520803
Tiivistelmä
Abstract:
The aim of this thesis is through a literature review to examine the causes, effects, and ways of alleviating loneliness to promote the mental health among the elderly.
This research will focus on answering the following questions:
What are the causes of loneliness among the elderly?
What are the effects of loneliness on the mental health of the elderly?
What mental health promotion interventions can be used in alleviating loneliness among the elderly
Method: Literature review was used to carry out the study and data collected was analyzed using a deductive content analysis. This analysis process was guided by Elo & Kyngäs (2008)
Results shows that the causes of loneliness are living alone, poor income, insufficient education, widowhood, poor functional status and many more. Research shows that loneliness has negative effects on mental health of the elderly for instance depression and suicides, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, increased stress levels, alcoholism and drug. Results also shows that loneliness has adverse harmful effects on mental health and health in general of the elderly. Nurses play a role in promotion intervention by educating and supervising leaders, supporting and motivating persons and groups, solving conflicts, acting when requested by target groups, documenting and evaluating. Mental health promotion interventions used in alleviating loneliness among the elderly is done is three phases: mental health promotion, nurse interventions and examples of good practice.
Conclusion:This review has acknowledged those factors that impact loneliness and mental health, the elderly’s mental health promotion needs and not forgetting the theory that helped to further analyze these factors in other to establish an effective promotion interventions. The results of this research will help professionals in identifying and responding to the needs of the elderly and therefore, improving and promoting their mental health and health in general.
The aim of this thesis is through a literature review to examine the causes, effects, and ways of alleviating loneliness to promote the mental health among the elderly.
This research will focus on answering the following questions:
What are the causes of loneliness among the elderly?
What are the effects of loneliness on the mental health of the elderly?
What mental health promotion interventions can be used in alleviating loneliness among the elderly
Method: Literature review was used to carry out the study and data collected was analyzed using a deductive content analysis. This analysis process was guided by Elo & Kyngäs (2008)
Results shows that the causes of loneliness are living alone, poor income, insufficient education, widowhood, poor functional status and many more. Research shows that loneliness has negative effects on mental health of the elderly for instance depression and suicides, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, increased stress levels, alcoholism and drug. Results also shows that loneliness has adverse harmful effects on mental health and health in general of the elderly. Nurses play a role in promotion intervention by educating and supervising leaders, supporting and motivating persons and groups, solving conflicts, acting when requested by target groups, documenting and evaluating. Mental health promotion interventions used in alleviating loneliness among the elderly is done is three phases: mental health promotion, nurse interventions and examples of good practice.
Conclusion:This review has acknowledged those factors that impact loneliness and mental health, the elderly’s mental health promotion needs and not forgetting the theory that helped to further analyze these factors in other to establish an effective promotion interventions. The results of this research will help professionals in identifying and responding to the needs of the elderly and therefore, improving and promoting their mental health and health in general.