Loneliness and Companionship in Assisted Living
Author Information
Author(s): Mauldin Rebecca, Kirsh Jaclyn, Fujimoto Kayo
Primary Institution: University of Texas at Arlington
Hypothesis
Does increased loneliness lead to more companionship ties among residents in assisted living communities?
Conclusion
Increased levels of loneliness are linked to a lower chance of maintaining or forming companionship ties among residents.
Supporting Evidence
- Increased loneliness was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of maintaining companionship ties.
- Greater contact with family members negatively affected companionship ties with other residents.
Takeaway
When people feel lonely in assisted living, they are less likely to make new friends, even though they might want to.
Methodology
The study used a stochastic actor-oriented network-behavioral co-evolution model to analyze data from the SEAL study.
Limitations
The study is based on secondary data and may not capture all factors influencing loneliness and companionship.
Participant Demographics
Older residents in an assisted living community.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website