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Results for “SOCIAL ISOLATION”

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PubMed2005

Online interaction. Effects of storytelling in an internet breast cancer support group.

The internet provides new ways of forming social relationships among people with breast cancer and is increasingly used for this purpose. This qualitative study, using ethnographic case-study method, aimed to explore how support groups on the internet can break the social isolation that follows cancer and chronic pain, by analysing the storytelling emerging on the Scandinavian Breast Cancer Mailing list. Using participant observation and face-to-face or online interviews of participants, we investigated the motivations of 15 women who chose the internet to counteract social isolation after breast cancer. The results showed that the women were empowered by the exchanges of knowledge and experience within the support group. The internet was considered a means for finding ways of living with breast cancer. Our study suggests that internet support groups have important potential for the rehabilitation of cancer patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

GIRK2 deficient mice. Evidence for hyperactivity and reduced anxiety.

G-protein activated inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK2)-deficient (null mutant) mice were examined in three tests for anxiety: the elevated plus-maze, light/dark box and "canopy" test. In the elevated plus-maze test, GIRK2 null mutant mice spent a higher percentage of time in the open arms and showed a higher number of total entries. A short (6 days) period of social isolation decreased anxiety and also increased the total activity in GIRK2 mutant mice. However, the increase of total activity in GIRK2 null mutant mice was mostly due to an increase in the number of entries into the open arms. The behavior of the wild-type animals was not substantially changed after social isolation. In the light/dark box, GIRK2 homozygous (-/-) mice demonstrated a higher level of locomotion and a higher number of rearings in the light area. In the "canopy" test, GIRK2 mutant mice displayed an increased locomotion in the exposed area and a strong trend to decrease in the number of stretched attend postures (SAP) in the most secure "canopy" area. GIRK2 heterozygous (+/-) animals showed behavioral changes intermediate between wild-type and null mutants only in the elevated plus-maze test after social isolation. In all other tests, GIRK2 heterozygous (+/-) animals did not differ from wild-type mice. Taken together, this data demonstrates that GIRK2 null mutant mice have reduced anxiety with signs of hyperactivity. We suggest that the functional block of dopamine D3 receptors may be a reason for this phenotype.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

The relation between physical, psychological, and social morbidity in a suburban community.

Questionnaire scales of physical, psychological, and social morbidity were utilized to discover the relation between these indices in a representative Australian suburban sample of 863 adults aged 20-69 years. The physical and psychological morbidity of the sample was considerable and comparable to that revealed by other health surveys. There was a positive association between the occurrence of physical and psychological illness. The level of social isolation was low and in this residentially stable sample there was no association between social isolation and either physical or psychological morbidity.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Living with an amputation: what it means for patients and their helpers.

The social and emotional problems declared by 134 single-leg amputees are compared with those of 109 people who were their main helpers. The Day Amputee Activity Score, the Goldberg GHQ, Townsend's Social Isolation scale and Forder's concept of Felt Need were used in the study. The majority of patients were elderly males. Most of the carers were women. Peripheral vascular disease was the most frequent reason for the amputation and its persistence postoperatively was predictive of poor rehabilitation outcome. The respondents reported unmet need for information about financial help, employment and social activity. Both groups shared a high level of social isolation, which was associated with risk of psychiatric illness and appeared to inhibit the expression of need. Helpers complained more forcefully than patients about service provision and discussed their emotional reactions more readily. The amputees tended to use denial in confronting the implications of limb ablation. Many respondents had no sources of help with personal or practical problems. Their knowledge of available services was poor. In particular, the role of social workers was not well understood. Neither the social work profession nor the Artificial Limb Centre was used to any appreciable extent as a source of help with psychosocial adjustment to loss of a limb.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Isolation and normlessness: attitudinal comparisons of adolescent sex offenders, juvenile offenders, and nondelinquents.

The authors explored attitudinal differences among adolescent male sex offenders, juvenile delinquents, and nondelinquent youth based on three variables drawn from integrated delinquency theory: conventional attitudes, normlessness, and social isolation. Consistent with previous juvenile delinquency studies, the results indicate no differences among the three groups on conventional attitudes. With respect to normlessness, both the sex offenders and juvenile delinquent groups demonstrated more school normlessness than did nondelinquent youths, and adolescent sex offenders showed greater peer normlessness than did either nondelinquent youths or juvenile delinquents. Examination of perceived social isolation among the three groups indicates that sex offenders consistently perceived themselves as more isolated than other youths with their families, in their school, and among their peers. These results suggest that interpersonal factors, in addition to a lack of social controls and normlessness, are associated with sexually inappropriate behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Making electronic mail accessible: perspectives of people with acquired cognitive impairments, caregivers and professionals.

The primary objective of this study was to better understand the technology needs, barriers and strategies of individuals with acquired cognitive impairments (ACI) in order to design and modify technologies with potential for alleviating the diminished independence and social isolation common in this population. The authors hypothesized that (1) higher rates of computer use would be reported by younger, more highly educated individuals with ACI, those with less severe injuries and those with previous computer experience; (2) A low percentage of survey respondents would own their own computers; and (3) People with ACI would experience social isolation and report low frequency of connecting with important people who live far away. A total of 133 individuals with ACI, professionals and care providers completed the survey. To gain more specific information, seven focus groups were conducted with 66 individuals with ACI and 20 care providers. Finally, 10 current email users participated in structured conversations, detailing their strategies for using email. The survey revealed that 80% of subjects with ACI reported owning a computer. Age and education were not predictors of computer use, but individuals whose ACI was the result of more severe injuries were less likely to use computers. As expected, respondents reported that maintaining contact with distant loved ones is problematic. The focus groups and conversations provided more detail about the communication needs of the population and the relative advantages and disadvantages of email compared with telephone and mail. Participants also identified barriers to email use they had encountered or feared they would encounter when using email. A number of accommodations to overcome these barriers were suggested. The results of the survey, focus groups and conversations confirmed the utility of email and other technologies for people with ACI and the need to make these technologies more accessible. The results and suggestions provided by the focus groups and interviews are being used in the design of Think and Link, an email interface for use by individuals with ACI.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Experience of family caregivers caring for patients with stroke].

The hospital mortality rate for stroke patients is now approximately 20%. Those who survive stroke are discharged to home disabled and the responsibility for providing adequate care to the patient has fallen primarily on family members. Maintaining the patients in the community may be ideal but it is not without cost. Although it is known that the role of family is critical to stroke rehabilitation, relatively few studies have examined caregiving within context of stroke, and nursing care is still limited to the patients ignoring family caregivers. Therefore, this study using grounded theory method was carried out to explore and explain the experiences of family caregivers from the time of the incidence throughout the course of stroke. The informants of the study were 24 family caregivers caring for the patients with stroke at hospitals or their homes. The study was conducted from March through August, 1992. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, telephone interviews and participant observation. Data collection and analysis were conducted concurrently allowing theoretical sampling and facilitating hypotheses to evolve. According to the results, caregiving has been associated with a range of negative experiences including emotional crisis, physical discomfort, guilty feeling, anxiety, feeling of social isolation, depression, hopelessness, and financial difficulties. Caregiving activities, commitment, recovery pattern accounted for the experiences of family caregivers, and the experiences varied according to the phases of the patient's recovery. The experiences of family caregivers are; emotional crisis upon a sudden occurrence of stroke; physical discomforts during hospitalization and the period the patients need an assistance with bathroom; feeling of social isolation beginning after discharge; and depression, hopelessness thereafter. Anxiety regarding the recurrence of stroke and the patient's prognosis was intensified with the patient's discharge to home. Guilty feeling was related to the caregiver's perceived role inadequacy. The type of relationship between caregiver and patient, sex of caregiver, and caregiver's financial status correlated to the experiences of family caregivers. Considering all the factors being related to such experiences as mentioned above, the following hypothesis were evolved. (1) The family caregivers who perceive that the patient's recovery has not reached their expectation feel higher level of anxiety. (2) Daughters-in-law feel the caregiving experiences more negative than spouses or adult-children. (3) Unmarried adult-children and daughters-in-law feel more of social isolation, depression, and hopelessness when the period of caregiving lasts longer. (4) Family caregivers who are male and self-supportive receive higher family support and feel the caregiving experiences less negatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Effect of social experience on dopamine-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity and G protein composition in chick forebrain.

The stimulation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) by dopamine was investigated in membrane fractions of the forebrain areas mediorostral neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale (MNH) and lobus parolfactorius (LPO) of 8-day-old domestic chicks that had been raised under different social conditions: group A, socially isolated; group B, imprinted on an acoustic stimulus; group C, trained but nonimprinted; and group D, reared in small groups. Only in the brain of the socially experienced groups could cyclic AMP (cAMP) synthesis be stimulated by dopamine, but not in the socially isolated animals (group A). Ligand binding studies of dopamine D1- and D2-type receptors in membrane fractions did not reveal differences between socially experienced and isolated animals. Forskolin stimulation of total AC in MNH and LPO membrane fractions revealed a significantly enhanced AC stimulation in the socially reared but not in the imprinted group compared with isolated controls. Stimulation of AC by the G protein activator guanylylimidodiphosphate was significantly increased in the MNH and the LPO of socially reared chicks compared with isolated control animals. These results suggest that early postnatal social experience modulates the rate of cAMP synthesis and that these lasting changes are not due to changes of dopamine receptors but are related to increased AC activities and to increased sensitivity of Gs protein.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed2003

Loneliness, health and depression in older males.

Loneliness and social isolation, particularly in the older adult, have been shown to influence psychosocial well-being. Loneliness has been related to chronic illness and self-rated health in older adults, and researchers suggest there is an important relationship between loneliness and psychological well-being in older adults particularly in the area of depression. This study investigated relationships between loneliness, health, and depression in 217 older men (> 65 years). Participants completed self-report measures of loneliness, social support, depression, and physical health. Regression analysis showed that a diagnosis of illness or disability was unrelated to depression, however self-reported health was associated with depression, with those reporting poorer health experiencing greater depression. Social support variables were unrelated to depression. The most significant relationship to depression was that of loneliness, with lonelier men reporting higher scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Although research suggests that depression is often a response to declining health and functional impairment in the older adult, the present findings suggest that social isolation may also influence the experience of depression. Age-related losses such as loss of professional identity, physical mobility and the inevitable loss of family and friends can affect a person's ability to maintain relationships and independence, which in turn may lead to a higher incidence of depressive symptoms.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

[Psychosocial factors as predictors of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events: contribution from animal models].

Conventional risk factors (abnormal lipids, hypertension, etc.) are independent predictors of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events; however, these factors are not specific since about half patients with acute myocardial infarction paradoxically result at low cardiovascular risk. Recent prospective studies provide convincing evidence that some psychosocial factors are independent predictors of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events, as well. Psychosocial factors that promote atherosclerosis can be divided into two general categories: chronic stressors, including social isolation/low social support and work stress (subordination without job control) and emotional factors, including affective disorders such as depression, severe anxiety and hostility/anger. The emotional factors, such as the chronic stressors, activate the biological mechanisms of chronic stress: increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, sympathetic system and inflammation processes, which have atherogenic effects, and an increase in blood coagulation. In spite of the amount of published data, psychosocial factors receive little attention in the medical setting. About 30 years ago, Kuller defined the criteria for a causal relation between a risk factor and atherosclerosis and cardiac events. The first of these criteria states that experimental research should demonstrate that any new factor would increase the extent of atherosclerosis or its complications in suitable animal models. We carried out a bibliographic research in order to investigate whether the results of the studies dealing with animal examination and experimentation support the psychosocial factors as predictors of atherosclerosis. Contributions related to some of the psychosocial factors such as social isolation, subordination and hostility/anger have been found. In these studies atherosclerotic extension has been evaluated at necroscopy; however, the incidence of cardiovascular events has not been investigated. As regards the biological mechanisms of chronic stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic system have been investigated. The studies have mainly been carried out on primates, and, to a less extent, on other mammals such as rabbit and wolf and on some species of birds. In the animals under social isolation, subordination or hostility/anger, a significantly more severe atherosclerosis was present, besides an increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic system. In conclusion, the results offered by animal models seem to satisfy the first of Kuller's criteria, as for the three above-mentioned psychosocial factors.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

The presence of the dam affects the efficiency of gentling and feeding on the early establishment of the stockperson-lamb relationship.

This experiment investigates how the maternal presence influences the effect of additional human contact in early age on the reaction of lambs to their stockperson. Forty twin-born lambs were involved in this experiment during their first 4 days of life. Ten pairs of twins were reared artificially from 12h of age. One of each litter (AF, n=10) received 6.5+/-0.7 sessions of 30min of separation from the twin (with a wire fence) with 5min of gentling and feeding (suckling from a bottle and from a bucket fitted with a rubber teat). The other twin was not treated. Ten pairs of twins were reared with their dam and received 6.6+/-0.7 sessions of treatment. One twin (MAF, n=10) received the same treatment as AF. The other twin (M, n=10) was separated for 30min from the dam and had no human contact. From the age of 70+/-7h, lambs were tested in a social isolation test (alone for 1min, with the familiar stockman for 2min, alone again for 1min), in a Preference test (2min) between an unfamiliar maternal ewe and the familiar stockman, and, for the AF lambs only, in a Preference test (2min) between their familiar and an unfamiliar stockman. Eight AF lambs learned to suck on their own from the bucket of milk by the end of the experiment compared to only one MAF (P<0.001). AF lambs approached the human more (P<0.01), vocalised less (P<0.01) and walked less (P<0.01) during the social isolation test than animals reared with their mother (M and MAF). AF did not show any preference between the stockman and the unfamiliar maternal ewe while M and MAF lambs chose the ewe (P<0.05). AF lambs discriminated the familiar from an unfamiliar stockman only if they had learned to suck from the bucket during the treatment. Nevertheless MAF lambs vocalised less than M (P<0.05) in the presence of the stockman during the social isolation test, indicating a possible reduction of isolation distress. These results show that artificially reared lambs are preferentially motivated to interact with a familiar human after only a few days of contact. Moreover, they highlight the difficulty in using a feeding reward to improve the human-lamb relationship when lambs are reared permanently with their dams. However, the results suggest that early gentling improves the human-animal relationship whatever the maternal environment.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

'They're all depressed, aren't they?' A qualitative study of social care workers and depression in older adults.

Statutory and voluntary social services provide care and support for vast numbers of vulnerable older adults, yet little is known about how social care practitioners respond to depression in this high risk population. This study elicited the perceptions and conceptualizations of this condition among social care staff, and views on how the response of social care and other agencies might be improved. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 social care practitioners working in generic services for older adults in south London. Depression was perceived to be remarkably common among clients, a phenomenon largely attributed to the adverse circumstances of old age, particularly social isolation. A key message from participants was that social causes indicate a need for social interventions. While primary care was criticised for not taking depression seriously in older people, mental health services were generally praised. Expansion of social, recreational and psychological interventions was advocated.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Relationship between the Maternal Social Support Index and the Parenting Stress Index in mothers of very-low-birthweight children now age 7.

Two measures, the Maternal Social Support Index and the Parenting Stress Index were used to assess parents' stress and social support among mothers of 7-yr-old children born at very low birthweight. The MSSI Total scores did not significantly correlate with the PSI Total Child, Total Parent, or Total Stress Indices, although they were significant, but modestly correlated with scores on the Parent subscale of Social Isolation. The relationship between parental stress and maternal social support requires continued investigation.

Child↗

PubMed1996

Prospective study of quality of life before and after open heart operations.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study, with completion of questionnaires before and 3 months after open heart operations, was to evaluate the improvement of quality of life brought about by these operations and the predictors of this improvement. METHODS: The Nottingham health profile questionnaire contains 38 subjective statements divided into six sections: energy, physical mobility, emotional reaction, pain, sleep, and social isolation. Factors influencing quality of life scores were determined by analysis of covariance. Factors influencing the status of the patients (improved or worsened) were determined by logistic regression. RESULTS: From January to July 1994, 215 consecutive patients underwent elective open heart operations. The comparison between mean preoperative and postoperative scores showed an improvement in all sections of quality of life. An average of 80% of patients were improved by their operations. Independent predictors of less improvement of quality of life scores were as follows: for the energy section, age over 70 and New York Heart Association functional class III or IV; for sleep, age over 70; for physical mobility, New York Heart Association functional class III or IV; for social isolation, female gender; and for pain, age over 70 and abnormal segmental wall motion. Independent predictors of patients worsened by operation were as follows: New York Heart Association functional class III or IV in the energy section (odds ratio = 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 9.8) and in the physical mobility section (odds ratio = 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 5.5), female gender in the social isolation section (odds ratio = 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 7.7), and presence of at least one comorbid disease in the emotional reaction section (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 5.2). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac operations improve quality of life in patients. The improvement is similar for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting versus valve replacement, and for patients with no postoperative events versus those with nonlethal postoperative complications. The strongest predictive factors for quality of life are age and New York Heart Association functional class.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1998

Isolation rearing affects sequential organization of motor behavior in post-pubertal but not pre-pubertal Lister and Sprague-Dawley rats.

OBJECTIVE: Dopaminergic and serotonergic modulation potently influences the sequential organization of rat movements in a simple unconditioned motor paradigm. Rats reared in social isolation post-weaning differ profoundly from their socially reared litter mates on behavioral, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical measures. This investigation examined (1) whether social isolation significantly affects the sequential organization of rat movements, (2) whether these changes occur at different ages, and (3) whether these changes differ across strains. METHOD: male Lister and Sprague Dawley rats reared in isolation post-weaning and socially reared controls were tested at 2 and 8 weeks post-weaning, in the Behavioral Pattern Monitor for 30-min sessions. The amount of activity and the spatial patterns of movements as measured by both the spatial scaling exponent and the fluctuation spectrum of local spatial scaling exponents were assessed in 10-min intervals. RESULTS: Habituation of locomotor activity was significantly attenuated in isolation reared rats during the 30-min sessions irrespective of strain. Spatial patterns of movements were significantly affected by isolation rearing in movements in post-pubertal but not pre-pubertal Lister and Sprague-Dawley rats. The spatial scaling exponent and the fluctuation spectrum analysis revealed a shift towards straight, distance-covering, and repetitive movements rather than a complex re-organization of the behavioral repertoire. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation rearing profoundly affects the sequential organization of movements in post-pubertal rats, suggesting that emerging behavioral dysfunctions parallel developmentally those found in patients with schizophrenia.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of the melanostatin analogue alaptide on dopamine-dependent behavior in rats reared in isolation].

The effects of alaptide, a new analog of melanostatine, on self-stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus, rotation behavior in rotometer, and stereotypy were studied in rats bred in social isolation from other animals beginning from the 17th day of birth and rats bred in groups. Alaptide potentiated amphetamine-stimulated behavior only in rats reared in social isolation. This effect was lateralized: the left rotation dominated. In rats reared in isolation and in groups the effects of alaptide on self-stimulation were oppositely directed: in the former it increased and in the latter decreased the rate of self-stimulations with oppositely directed changes in pedal pressing duration. At the same time, alaptide suppressed the effects of amphetamine on self-stimulation of rats reared in isolation. The central dopamine mechanisms of melanostatine action are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Handling and isolation in three strains of rats affect open field, exploration, hoarding and predation.

Male albino (Al), brown hooded (Br) and black hooded (Bl) rats were raised in social isolation or in pairs, with or without systematic handling. At 90 and 180 days of age, the animals were individually tested for activity in an open field (Of), exploratory behavior in a complex environment, food hoarding (Hd) and insect predation (Pd). Multivariate analysis of the results showed significant influences of all three factors (strain, handling and social isolation) and interactions among them. Strain affected Of, Hd and Pd, with contrastingly high performances of Br in Of, Al in Hd and Bl in Pd. Handling increased Of and exploration scores in both test series. Isolation induced higher performances in all the four behaviors in the second test series. Accentuated and stable individual differences occurred in the performances off all the behaviors. The results emphasize the subtleness and complexity of the interplay of genetic and environmental influences and stress the independence of the regulatory processes of different behaviors.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Relationships between the deinstitutionalization of healthcare for patients with mental disorder, substance abuse, and isolated death.

Isolated death (ID) (i.e., dying alone without anyone noticing for several days) has been suggested to be related to social isolation, mental disorder, and alcohol and/or drug abuse. A major transfer of patients with a mental disorder and/or alcohol and/or drug abuse from institutionalized care to treatment as outpatients has been enacted in Sweden during the past decade. On the basis of the assumption that such deinstitutionalization is likely to result in increased social isolation, our working hypothesis was that the incidence of ID among patients belonging to these categories has increased in Sweden. The present study involved all deaths subjected to a medicolegal examination in Stockholm County (with a population of approximately 1.9 million people) during the period 1992-2000. The pattern of ID (defined as cases involving a postmortem delay between death and discovery of at least 1 week), as well as the incidence of fatalities subjected to medicolegal examination with a record of mental disorder and/or alcohol and/or drug abuse was evaluated. Throughout this period, the proportion of the deceased with a record of a mental disorder was high among all the cases examined and higher still among the cases of ID, especially among those younger than 65 years of age. There was a rather limited increase in the incidence of ID and a much more pronounced increase in the number of former psychiatric patients whose deaths were subjected to medicolegal examination, but did not satisfy the criteria for ID. A record of alcohol and/or drug abuse was more common than a diagnosis of mental disorder among both the males and females who died at an age of less than 65, with a clear difference between the cases of ID and non-ID in the case of men. There was no significant increase in incidence over the course of this study. Thus, this study reveals a slight increase in the number of IDs and a more pronounced increase in the number of medicolegal examination of non-IDs of individuals with a record of a mental disorder.

Age Distribution↗