Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Fam Community Health. 2012 Oct-Dec;35(4):322-33. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0b013e318266669f.
Social integration is measured by a variety of social network indicators each with limitations in its ability to produce a complete picture of the variety and scope of interactions of older adults receiving long-term services and supports. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the feasibility of collecting sociocentric (whole network) data among older adults in one assisted living neighborhood. The sociocentric approach is required to conduct social network analysis. Applying social network analysis is an innovative way to measure different facets of social integration among residents. Sociocentric data are presented for 12 residents. Network visualization or sociograms are used to illustrate the level of social integration among residents and between residents and staff. Measures of network centrality are reported to illustrate the number of personal connections and cohesion. The use of resident photographs helped residents with cognitive impairment to nominate individuals with whom they interacted. The sociocentric approach to data collection is feasible and allows researchers to measure levels and different aspects of social integration in assisted living environments. Residents with mild to moderate cognitive impairment were able to participate with the aid of resident and staff photographs. This approach is sensitive to capturing routine day-to-day interactions between residents and assisted living staff members that are often not reported in person-centered networks. This study contributes to the foundation for larger more representative studies of entire assisted living organizations that could in the future inform interventions aimed at improving social integration and cohesion among recipients of long-term services and supports.
社会融合度可以通过各种社交网络指标来衡量，但这些指标在全面反映接受长期服务和支持的老年人的互动多样性和范围方面都存在一定的局限性。本研究旨在开发和评估在一个辅助生活社区中收集以关系为中心（整个网络）数据的可行性。社会网络分析需要采用以关系为中心的方法。应用社会网络分析是衡量居民社会融合度不同方面的创新方法。为 12 名居民提供了以关系为中心的数据。网络可视化或社交图用于说明居民之间以及居民与工作人员之间的社会融合程度。报告了网络中心性的衡量标准，以说明个人联系和凝聚力的数量。使用居民照片可以帮助认知障碍的居民提名与他们互动的人。以关系为中心的数据收集方法是可行的，可以让研究人员在辅助生活环境中衡量社会融合度的水平和不同方面。轻度至中度认知障碍的居民可以在居民和工作人员照片的帮助下参与。这种方法能够敏感地捕捉到居民与辅助生活工作人员之间日常的、常规的互动，而这些互动在以个人为中心的网络中往往没有被报告。本研究为未来旨在改善长期服务和支持接受者的社会融合度和凝聚力的整个辅助生活组织的更大、更具代表性的研究奠定了基础。
