Loneliness,social support,social isolation and wellbeing among working age adults with and without disability: Cross-sectional study

BackgroundLoneliness is significantly related to health and wellbeing. However, there is little information on the prevalence of loneliness among people with disability or the association between disability, loneliness and wellbeing.Objective/hypothesisFor a nationally representative sample of adults (age 16–64) with/without disability, to examine exposure to three indicators of low social connectedness (loneliness, low perceived social support, social isolation), and to evaluate the association between low social connectedness and wellbeing. To test whether disability status moderated the relationship between low social connectedness and wellbeing.MethodsSecondary analysis of data from three annual rounds of the cross-sectional English Community Life Survey (CLS) 2016–19.ResultsPeople with disability experienced loneliness, low perceived social support and social isolation at significantly higher rates than people without disability. Effect sizes were significantly greater for loneliness. Disability was associated with lower wellbeing. With one exception, low social connectedness was associated with lower wellbeing. Again, effect sizes were significantly greater for loneliness. The prevalence of loneliness was highest among adults with disability who were younger, economically inactive, living in rented or other accommodation, living alone and with low levels of access to environmental assets. There was no evidence that disability status moderated the association between exposure to low social connectedness and low wellbeing.ConclusionsLoneliness was a particularly significant driver of poor wellbeing among people with disability. The relative independence between different indicators of social connectedness suggests that interventions to reduce loneliness will need to do more than simply increase rates of social contact or social support.     

The association between disability and risk of exposure to peer cyber victimisation is moderated by gender: Cross-sectional survey

BackgroundLittle is known about the exposure of youth with disability to cyber victimisation.Objective/Hypothesis: To estimate the prevalence of peer cyber and non-cyber victimisation in a nationally representative sample of 14-year-old adolescents with and without disability and to determine whether gender moderates the relationship between disability and exposure to victimisation.MethodsSecondary analysis of data collected in Wave 6 of the UK's Millennium Cohort Survey on 11,726 14-year-old adolescents living in the UK.ResultsAdolescents with disability had higher prevalence of cyber and non-cyber victimisation than those with no disability. For cyber victimisation there was a statistically significant interaction between gender and disability, with evidence of increased cyber victimisation for adolescents with disability compared to those with no disability among girls, but not boys. For non-cyber victimisation there was no evidence of an interaction between gender and disability.ConclusionsThe prevalence of both cyber and non-cyber victimisation was higher among adolescents with disability than those with no disability. The association between disability and risk of exposure to peer cyber victimisation appears to be moderated by gender.     

How are bariatric patients coping during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic? Analysis of factors known to cause weight regain among postoperative bariatric patients

BackgroundThe global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is wreaking havoc on society. Bariatric patients are more prone to severe infection due to their high body mass index (BMI) and are more vulnerable to the effects of isolation, such as depression or disruption of their health habits.ObjectivesTo quantify the impact of self-quarantine on bariatric patients and self-quarantine’s relationship with weight gain.SettingAcademic hospital, United States.MethodsA 30-item survey examining several known contributors to weight regain was distributed among the postoperative bariatric patients of our clinic. Changes in eating habits, exercise, depression, social support, loneliness, and anxiety were studied, among others.ResultsA total of 208 patients completed the survey (29.3% response rate). A large percentage of patients reported increases in their depression (44.2%), loneliness (36.2%), nervousness (54.7%), snacking (62.6%), loss of control when eating (48.2%), and binge eating (19.5%) and decreases in their social support (23.2%), healthy food eating (45.5%), and activity (55.2%). Difficulty in accessing vitamins was reported by 13%. Patients more than 18 months out of surgery regained more than 2 kg during an average of 47 days. Risk factors for weight regain were found to be loss of control when eating, increases in snacking and binge eating, reduced consumption of healthy food, and reduced physical activity.ConclusionBariatric patients are negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social isolation on many levels. This patient population is vulnerable to crisis situations; thus, additional intervention is needed to address behaviors that lead to weight regain.     

Longitudinal person-centered measurement: A psychometric evaluation of the Preparedness for Colorectal Cancer Surgery Questionnaire (PCSQ)

ObjectiveThe Preparedness for Colorectal Cancer Surgery Questionnaire (PCSQ) was previously developed in Swedish to assess patients’ knowledge seeking and sense making capabilities. Aiming to measure preparedness at different phases during the pre-surgery and recovery period, the objectives were to (a) evaluate psychometric properties of the longitudinal PCSQ, (b) establish measurement invariance over time, and (c) describe change in preparedness.MethodsElective colorectal cancer surgery patients completed a questionnaire at five time points from pre-surgery until 6 months post-surgery (n = 250). The longitudinal PCSQ consists of 23 items measuring four domains: Searching for and making use of information, Understanding and involvement in care, Making sense of recovery, Support and access to care. Psychometric analyses, including confirmatory factor analysis, were applied to evaluate internal consistency reliability and ascertain invariance over time of the measurement structure and parameters.ResultsThe psychometric analyses revealed good fit of the measurement models, high internal consistency reliability (≥.94), and support for configural, metric and scalar measurement invariance of the four PCSQ domains. Patients reported lower levels of preparedness after surgery than pre-surgery.ConclusionThe adapted version of the PCSQ can be used for longitudinal analyses.Practice implicationsThe measurement of preparedness is important for evaluating person-centred outcomes before and during recovery from colorectal cancer surgery.     

Psychosocial work environment,hearing impairment and health

This article summarizes results from a study of hearingimpaired men and women in the labour force in Sweden. A questionnaire about psychosocial work environment (in accordance with the Demand-Control Model), health and wellbeing was sent out and answered by 445 hearingimpaired people, 20-64 years of age. A large reference group had previously answered the same questionnaire. The results indicate that imbalances between demand and control (i.e. high demand and low control, so-called high stress work type) is more common among hearingimpaired people than in the reference group. The outcome of the combination high demand and low control among hearing-impaired people is (much) worse than among hearing-impaired people with other work types ( passive, active, low stress). Hearing-impaired people with the high-stress work type more frequently report bad physical health status and psychological wellbeing regarding a number of indicators. There is, moreover, a tendency for women to be worse off than men. Our data suggest that those involved in audiological rehabilitation should pay great attention to hearing-impaired people with jobs that can be characterized as high stress.     

Massage and reflexology for post-operative cancer cystectomy patients: Evaluation of a pilot service

Backgroundand purpose: Radical cystectomy is a gold standard treatment for invasive bladder cancer. However the length of the operation is long and recovery is usually slow and painful. There is growing recognition of the importance of health related quality of life among patients undergoing invasive surgical procedures. In response, a massage and reflexology service was piloted and evaluated.Materials and methodsOne hour of massage, reflexology or a combination of both was provided twice to 38 cystectomy patients by a trained therapist in their acute post-operative phase (day one and day three). Self-reported concerns, well-being and pain were measured before and immediately after the therapy. Pain was measured once more in the early evening of each therapy day.ResultsSelf-reported concerns and pain were significantly reduced following the intervention on both days treatments were given. Pain was measured again on the evening of each of the intervention days, and this reduction was maintained on day one but not day three. Well-being scores were also significantly improved pre to post intervention on both day one and day three. Qualitative comments highlighted that this complementary therapy service was viewed both beneficial and relaxing. There were no significant differences between the different therapies used (massage, reflexology, or a combination of the two).ConclusionThe findings of this pilot evaluation very tentatively support the benefits of cancer cystectomy patients receiving massage and/or reflexology in their acute postoperative recovery period. There are many limitations to this evaluation. Further research utilising a randomised control methodology alongside medical, independent markers is warranted, and currently in development.     

Wellbeing,resilience, and coping: Are there differences between healthy older adults,adults with mild cognitive impairment,and adults with Alzheimer-type dementia?

The changes that occur with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease could affect psychological aspects unrelated to memory. The purpose of this study is to compare 32 healthy older adults, 31 amnestic mild cognitively impaired (aMCI) adults, and 32 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD), in order to determine whether there are differences in their psychological wellbeing, resilience, and coping strategies. Unifactorial MANOVAS and ANOVAS were performed to analyze the between-group differences. The results reveal that the AD group showed lower levels of resilience and orientation toward problem-solving and greater use of religious strategies. In addition, they had significantly lower wellbeing scores than the other groups. The worsening of the pathology impedes the capacity for adaptation and resilience and the application of strategies oriented toward the problem, and it increases the application of strategies based on magical thinking. Moreover, it also produces a reduction in wellbeing.     

A systematic review of the impacts of intergenerational engagement on older adults’ cognitive,social, and health outcomes

BackgroundIntergenerational engagement could benefit health and wellbeing within an ageing population. This systematic review evaluated the impacts of intergenerational engagement on cognitive, social, and health outcomes in healthy older adults and older adults with mild cognitive impairment.Research design and methodsComprehensive literature searches were undertaken, with records filtered according to pre-registered criteria. Study quality was formally assessed, and a narrative synthesis of the findings produced.ResultsForty-four studies were reviewed. Regarding quantitative evidence, 4 out of 8 studies found significant intergenerational engagement effects on cognitive outcomes, 15 of 24 on social outcomes, and 21 of 31 on health-related outcomes. Qualitative evidence was also important for understanding perceived impacts and experiences of intergenerational programmes. Only 11 studies fully met criteria for high quality research, of which the majority focused on social outcomes.Discussion and implicationsThere are a range of potential benefits of intergenerational engagement, most notably regarding anxiety, generativity, cross-age attitudes, and physical activity. However, heterogeneity in programme context, sample design, dosage, and duration indicate that more research is required to enable wider implementation and generalisability. Scientific rigour in both quantitative and qualitative research should also be employed as far as possible, to provide the highest quality evidence.     

Climate anxiety: Psychological responses to climate change

Climate change will affect psychological wellbeing. Substantial research has documented harmful impacts on physical health, mental health, and social relations from exposure to extreme weather events that are associated with climate change. Recently, attention has turned to the possible effects of climate change on mental health through emotional responses such as increased anxiety. This paper discusses the nature of climate anxiety and some evidence for its existence, and speculates about ways to address it. Although climate anxiety appears to be a real phenomenon that deserves clinical attention, it is important to distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive levels of anxiety. A focus on individual mental health should not distract attention from the societal response that is necessary to address climate change.     

Effect of high and low frequency exercise therapy in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Background

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is one of the major surgeries requiring long-term stay in hospital. This generally leads to the detrimental effects of bed-rest, including dependency in self-care, transfer, and locomotion. Our aim was to compare the effect of high-frequency and low-frequency exercise therapy in patients who had undergone CABG.