Psychology, School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Glob Health Action. 2012 Oct 11;5:18861. doi: 10.3402/gha.v5i0.18861.
Older people are more prone to experience loneliness when living in residential care facilities. The purpose of this study was to explore older people's experiences of loneliness in the context of institutionalized care. A voluntary and convenience-based sample of 10 white South African older people (age range 62 to 82 years; three men and seven women) was drawn. Data on the subjective experience of loneliness were then gathered through the Mmogo-method, whereby drawings were employed to explore matters and issues of importance in the lives of older people that could be used to deal with loneliness. Data were analyzed thematically and visually as well as through the use of keywords in context. The results showed that older people experienced loneliness in terms of having unavailable interactions due to loss, and an absence of meaningful interpersonal interactions. Meaningful interpersonal interactions were described as when the older people had regular contact and a variety of interactions. Ineffective interpersonal styles (e.g. taking a controlling position in relationships and being rigid) elicited rejection and isolation, and were associated with a lack of confirmatory interpersonal relationships. It is recommended that greater emphasis should be placed on creating awareness of unhealthy group dynamics as well as on psychosocial interventions to develop group support. Interpersonal styles, either effective or ineffective, take place in a social context, which, in this research, was observed to be unsafe, lacking in care, and a non-stimulating environment.
老年人在居住护理机构中更容易感到孤独。本研究旨在探讨老年人在机构化护理环境中孤独感的体验。通过自愿和便利抽样的方式，抽取了 10 名南非白人老年人（年龄在 62 岁至 82 岁之间；3 名男性，7 名女性）作为研究对象。然后，通过 Mmogo 方法收集关于孤独感的主观体验数据，该方法使用绘画来探索老年人生活中重要的事物和问题，这些可以用来应对孤独感。通过主题分析、视觉分析以及关键词分析对数据进行了分析。研究结果表明，老年人因失去而无法进行互动，以及缺乏有意义的人际互动而感到孤独。有意义的人际互动被描述为老年人有定期的联系和多种互动。无效的人际风格（例如在关系中采取控制地位和僵化）会引起拒绝和孤立，并与缺乏确认性的人际关系有关。建议更加重视创造对不健康群体动态的认识，以及进行心理社会干预以发展群体支持。无论是有效的还是无效的人际风格，都发生在社会背景中，在这项研究中，观察到社会背景不安全、缺乏关怀，且环境缺乏激励。
