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The relationship between loneliness, social support, and decline in cognitive function in hospitalized aged men and women.
- Format:
- Book
- Thesis/Dissertation
- Author/Creator:
- Ryan, Maura Cronin.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Nursing.
- Gerontology.
- 0351.
- 0569.
- Penn dissertations--Nursing.
- Nursing--Penn dissertations.
- Local Subjects:
- Penn dissertations--Nursing.
- Nursing--Penn dissertations.
- 0351.
- 0569.
- Physical Description:
- 190 pages
- Contained In:
- Dissertation Abstracts International 50-11B.
- System Details:
- Mode of access: World Wide Web.
- text file
- Summary:
- This longitudinal correlational study investigated on admission to the hospital: (1) the prevalence of loneliness and depression in aged medically ill men and women who were not cognitively impaired; (2) examined the relationship of loneliness to the development of a decline in cognitive function; (3) examined the relationship of social support to the development of a decline in cognitive function; and (4) examined the interactive effects among loneliness, social support, and decline in cognitive function during hospitalization.
- The sample was limited to persons over age 65 not recently bereaved and without depression or psychiatric diagnosis or treatment. The cognitive status of nonsurgical patients with any one of 35 predetermined primary admitting medical diagnoses was measured within 48 hours of hospital admission. One hundred forty-five subjects without impaired cognition were then tested for their levels of loneliness, depression and social support. The cognitive status of the 86 patients remaining in the hospital 5 days later was again tested. The data were analyzed using correlational and multiple regression/correlational analysis.
- Twenty-seven patients declined in cognitive function, 38 improved and 21 remained unchanged during hospitalization; 35% scored above the sample mean on loneliness and depression concurrently. The lonelier the patient the lower the cognitive status on admission. Loneliness on admission was correlated with improved cognitive status 5 days later. A significantly positive relationship was found between social support and cognitive status on admission and between social support and acuity of illness. High social support on admission was correlated with a significant decline in cognitive function during hospitalization. Depression was significantly and inversely related to cognitive status on admission and to improved cognitive status during hospitalization. Loneliness on admission was positively related to depression, and inversely related to social support.
- This study therefore provided more precise information on the relationship of these psychosocial variables to a decline in cognitive function. High social support on admission was found to be a risk factor in cognitive decline. Incorporating questions relating to one's social supports into the initial assessment will assist nurses in identifying and ultimately contribute to preventing cognitive decline in aged hospitalized patients.
- Notes:
- Thesis (Ph.D. in Nursing) -- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 1989.
- Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-11, Section: B, page: 4987.
- Supervisor: Mathy Mezey.
- Local Notes:
- School code: 0175.
- Access Restriction:
- Restricted for use by site license.
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