Elsevier

Geriatric Nursing

Volume 23, Issue 1, January–February 2002, Pages 53-55
Geriatric Nursing

Home Health Care
Social isolation: Important construct in community health*

https://doi.org/10.1067/mgn.2002.122564Get rights and content

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Definition and measurement

Much has been written on the concept of isolation, which has two forms: social and emotional isolation. Social isolation has been defined as the lack of actual interaction with other individuals, whereas emotional isolation is the lack of someone to whom a person feels emotionally committed.1 Vincenzi and Grabosky defined emotional isolation as a deficiency in intimacy and attachments and social isolation as a deficiency in social integration.2

Operational definitions frequently have been used

Related positive concepts

Related positive concepts in the literature include aloneness and solitude. Aloneness can be defined as the act of being apart from others but has an element of choice. We usually choose to be alone when we need time to restore energy. In medieval times, aloneness signified completeness in a person's singular being.5 Aloneness is considered healthy in many societies. Trance dancing, vision quests, or hunting are a few acceptable ways to dissociate.5

Solitude, in religious terminology, typically

Related negative concepts

Related negative concepts in the literature include loneliness, estrangement, and alienation. Loneliness is closely linked with social isolation. Forbes6 depicts loneliness as an unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship or feeling that a person is alone but not liking it. Loneliness like isolation has been divided into the two sub-types: emotional and social. Emotional loneliness is a lack of an intimate one-on-one relationship or friendship, and social loneliness is a result of

Social isolation: Definition and identification

The concept of social isolation is complex. Many causes, effects, and associated variables are found in the literature. Major causes of isolation include physical, psychologic, economic, and social isolators. Examples of physical isolators include decreased wellness or functional ability and sensory loss. Possible psychologic isolators are phobias, depression, anger, and decreased self-esteem. Economic factors, such as limited income, make it difficult to participate in some social activities.

Social support: Important for health

A concept contrary to social isolation is social support. Social support has been extensively studied in the literature. Researchers often make a distinction between quantitative and qualitative social support. Bondevik4 differentiates social networks as the quantitative and structural aspects of human relationships and social support as the qualitative aspect of perceived support. Although both the amount and the quality of contact influence social isolation, quality seems to be a bigger

Concept in practice

Why is social isolation so prevalent among the elderly? According to Bondevik,4 older people may experience diminished vitality and health at the same time they experience relational losses, such as a spouse, relative, or child. The elderly also frequently suffer loss of friendships as a result of relocating after many years of living in one community. This move places the elderly at the greatest risk for social isolation because of loneliness and decreased self-esteem. The elderly also are at

Reaching out to at-risk elders: Important nursing role

The isolated elderly need practitioners to reach out to them because they rarely seek help themselves. It has been well established that older adults underuse mental health services. Barriers to accessing mental health services are similar to causal factors of social isolation. Some of these barriers include fear of the unknown, fear of stigma, and lack of transportation. Health care providers, especially those who work in community settings and make home visits, are best suited to identify

Conclusion

Social isolation is multidimensional, occurring for a variety of reasons, in many different contexts, and with numerous factors. Social isolation can occur for various reasons, including physical or emotional separation from others. An individual can be physically separated from others by virtue of living arrangements, geography, or physical handicaps. For example, sick elders living alone and unable to reach out to others obviously are at risk for isolation. However, newly institutionalized or

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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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Geriatr Nurs 2002;23:53-5

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