PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L C Mullins

Publications and source records attributed to L C Mullins.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

A comparative empirical study of autonomy in nursing homes in Sweden and Florida, USA.

This study seeks to comparatively examine how autonomy is evaluated by a sample of nursing staff in both Sweden and Florida, USA. In both cultures support for patient autonomy was generally greater from an individual point of view than from the anticipated institutional perspective. Comparisons between the cultures revealed that individual staff members in the Swedish nursing homes generally gave higher priority to patient preference than did their American counterparts. On the other hand, support for patient preference was generally greater in the American nursing homes in regard to institutionally anticipated decision. There were statistically significant mean value differences between Swedish nursing staff's personal opinion and anticipated institutional decisions in five of six case studies. Nursing staff's personal opinion showed a stronger support for patient's preferences. There was a statistically significant mean value difference between American nursing staffs' personal opinion and anticipated institutional decisions in only one of the six case studies. In spite of cultural differences the reported results to some degree reflect a common value-system regarding both the anticipated institutional perspective and nursing staffs' personal opinion.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Social determinants of loneliness among older Americans.

To further understand loneliness among older persons, a conceptual model, predicated on a social-support perspective, was examined. Results were based on 1,071 participants in the congregate and home-delivered meal programs of the Senior Citizens Nutrition and Activities Program in Hillsborough County, Florida. A series of stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that loneliness was greater among men, those with no children, those with no friends, those more physically disabled, those who subjectively felt that their health was poorer, and those who subjectively felt that their economic condition was inadequate. Not related directly to loneliness but with indirect influence were age, race, education, marital status, and poverty status. Those variables with no direct or indirect effect included rural or urban location, identification of emotional closeness with existing children or friends, and living alone. Theoretically, the results do not fully support the social-support perspective but point to the impact of a broad spectrum of demographic, health, economic, and social factors.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

On the nesting of snowbirds: a question about seasonal and permanent migrants.

This essay asserts that seasonal and permanent migration may be connected, although there is no direct evidence for this relationship in the current research literature. We draw circumstantial and incomplete evidence for this proposition from findings of a recent survey of Canadian snowbirds in Florida and a parallel study of Canadian-Americans using the 1980 census public use sample migrant file. Other researchers are encouraged to settle the issue by including appropriate items in surveys of snowbirds that would determine whether or not some of the permanent migrants from the same origin serve as an unofficial reception committee for winter visitors, providing for them a socially receptive place to "nest" for the season.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

The influence of depression, and family and friendship relations, on residents' loneliness in congregate housing.

We examined the impact of various social relationships on levels of loneliness reported by 208 elderly residents of 10 senior housing apartments. Because the literature demonstrates a clear relationship between depression and loneliness, this study controlled for depression to provide a more concise look at the condition of loneliness. Those who were less satisfied with the quality of their relationships and had less contact with close friends were more lonely. Whether one had children, grandchildren, siblings, or neighbors had no significant effect on reported loneliness.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

An examination of loneliness among elderly Canadian seasonal residents in Florida.

As part of a larger study focusing on different facets of the lives of 2,731 older Canadians who seasonally reside in Florida, we investigated primarily the extent of family and friendship contacts and the loneliness expressed by these older Canadians. The data were collected using a questionnaire that was distributed and returned by mail. The sample was taken from the subscription list of a newspaper in Florida that was a subsidiary of a large Canadian newspaper. The results show a population that was relatively young, married, in generally good health, and with rather extensive contacts with family and friends while residing in Florida. Nevertheless, more than a fifth indicated they were at least somewhat lonely. Results, using discriminate function analysis, showed that those more lonely were younger, female, less educated, not married, in poorer physical health, had fewer Florida friends, and had more children who lived near them in Canada, but fewer children who lived near them in the United States. Implications of the results are discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

A study of loneliness among a national sample of Swedish elderly.

This study examined: 1) the loneliness experienced by a representative sample of persons from Sweden in 1986, and 2) the relative impact of age, gender, household size, subjective health assessments, and two indicators of income adequacy on loneliness. The results are based on the responses to a telephone survey, conducted by SIFO, of a weighted subsample of 212 persons aged 65+. The overall sample consisted of 1005 person 16 years of age and older. In general, only a minority (27%) of the Swedish elderly indicated loneliness was at least a somewhat serious problem. Cross-tabular, and discriminant function analysis showed that loneliness was associated with being older, being alone, and poor self-reported health. These findings are compared to those of other Swedish and American studies. Additionally, implications with regard to Swedish policy are suggested.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

The effects of a short-term death training program on nursing home nursing staff.

This study examines the effects on nursing home nurses of a two-day training program concerned with nurses and their response to the dying patient. Utilizing the Solomon four-group design, the study investigates whether exposure to information on death and dying (a) results in the acquisition of greater knowledge about death and dying, (b) is accompanied by a more positive attitude toward the elderly, and (c) is accompanied by a change in anxiety about death. Based on t tests and one-way analyses of covariance, the results point up the mixed nature of short-term training programs. It was found that there was a significant increase in the nurses' knowledge about death and dying, there was no change in their attitudes toward the elderly, and there was a significant increase among the nurses in the death anxiety experienced. This is not to suggest that training programs of this sort should not be conducted with nursing home staff. On the one hand such programs provide information useful for job performance. On the other hand they create some sensitization to death, which at the very least could give nurses greater insights into the concerns of the patients and perhaps stimulate empathetic responses.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1982

Death anxiety among nursing home residents: a comparison of the young-old and the old-old.

The purpose of this research was (a) to determine whether there is a comparative difference in the level of conscious death anxiety between young-old and the old-old nursing home residents and (b) to assess the predictive value of educational attainment, gender, subjective health, functional ability, social support, and length of stay on the conscious death anxiety of the persons in the two age groups. A discriminant analysis of 228 residents from three nursing homes revealed that among the 103 young-old subjects poor subjective health, poor functional ability, poor social support, and extended stays in the facilities were indicative of high death anxiety. Among the 125 old-old subjects, high death anxiety was associated with poor subjective health, poor functional ability, and higher educational attainment. Further, it was found that age was an important variable. A significantly greater proportion of the older residents compared to the younger residents had higher conscious death anxiety. The results may direct practitioners and planners in program development for the elderly nursing home patient.

Aged↗