Transcultural and Psychometric Validation of the Lubben Social Network Scale in Older Adults Living in the French West Indies
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Self-assessment questionnaire.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Geriatric Assessment, Patients Over 65 Years Old. Basic parameters: from 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Martinique
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Social isolation and loneliness are common among older adults. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality, with an impact comparable to that of other known risk factors such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, etc. To date, there is no tool to measure social isolation and loneliness for patients living in the French West Indies. Applying unadapted and unvalidated tools to them without taking into account local ethnocultural realities would be risky. The investigators believe it is necessary to adapt the scales used to measure social isolation and loneliness for a population living in the French West Indies. Through this study, the investigators propose adapting the Lubben Social Network Scale, a social isolation questionnaire, for this population and conducting its psychometric validation.
Detailed description
Social isolation and loneliness are common among older adults. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality, with an impact comparable to that of other known risk factors such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, etc.
Loneliness is a subjective concept of social relationships, most often reflecting a negative feeling.
Social isolation, on the other hand, is an objective concept of social relationships and refers to infrequent or rare contact with family and friends and can also include living alone.
The feeling of loneliness is linked to social isolation, although the association is only partial.
Indeed, some socially isolated people do not always experience loneliness; and some people living alone are not always socially isolated.
Two theories of loneliness argue that a mismatch between expectations and realities of social contact (cognitive theory) and a lack of intimate or social relationships (deficit theory) can lead to feelings of social or emotional loneliness.
A meta-analysis showed that the risk of premature death was 26% higher in people experiencing loneliness, 29% higher in those who were socially isolated, and 32% higher in the group living alone.
Another meta-analysis examined the effects of loneliness and social isolation on (among other things) mortality. The results showed that loneliness and social isolation were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality.
The authors conclude that further research is needed to confirm whether loneliness and social isolation have a direct impact on mortality, or whether the association is indirect via the cardiovascular system and psychological health.
To date, there is no tool to measure social isolation and loneliness for patients living in the French West Indies. Applying unsuitable and unvalidated tools to them without taking into account local ethnocultural realities would be risky.
The investigators believe it is necessary to adapt the scales used to measure social isolation and loneliness for a population living in the French West Indies.
Through this study, the investigators propose adapting the Lubben Social Network Scale, a social isolation questionnaire, for this population and conducting its psychometric validation.
Interventions
- Other Self-assessment questionnaire
150 patients aged of 65 or older will pass the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire. The Duke Health Profile questionnaire will be also passed by the subject, for the convergent validity.
Primary outcome measures
- Transcultural validation of the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire [Time frame: 1 month]
- Psychometric validation of the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire [Time frame: 24 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Patient ≥ 65 years old,
- Hospitalized (Geriatric Day Hospital (HDJ) or Geriatric Medical Care and Rehabilitation Service (SMT)), or seen in geriatric external consultation,
- MMS ≥ 20,
- Patient able to understand and answer a self-administered questionnaire in French,
- Patient having been informed of the research,
- Patient agreeing to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria
- Patient with sensory disorders preventing completion of the questionnaire,
- Patient unable to consent to participate in the study,
- Patient under legal protection, guardianship, or curatorship,
- Patient who has refused to participate in the study.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Martinique · 1 center
- CHU of Martinique — Fort-de-France
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06909591 · 24_RIPH3-05 · 2024-A02609-38