Objective
This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the participation of people living in the nursing homes to social activities and their life satisfaction, social isolation and loneliness.
Methods
The study was performed between January 2017 and April 2018 in three nursing homes using the cross-sectional research design. The study population consisted of 310 elderly people in total, 118 women, 192 men, who were over 65 years of age and had no mental and communication problems. Ninety percent of the population was reached. The data were collected by using a questionnaire, Standardized Mini Mental Test, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Social Isolation Scale (SIS) and Loneliness Scale for Elderly People (LSEP). Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used in data analysis.
Results
The mean age of the elderly subjects was 74.10 ± 7.57 years, and 61.9% were male and 38.1% were female. Elderly subjects’ SWLS and LSEP scores were below the median, and their SIS score was above the median value. Elderly people without disabilities, who can meet their own needs, do not feel alone, stay in the healthcare facility of their own accord, are satisfied with the services healthcare facility and with life, do sports, go to cinema and theater in their free time and go out more often had high SWLS median values and low SIS and LSEP values (p < 0,05). Examining scale correlations, a moderate and negative correlation between SWLS and SIS (r= -,59; p=,000) a highly significant and negative correlation between SWLS and LSEP (r= -,70; p=,000) and a positive, statistically moderately significant correlation between SIS and LSEP (r=, 65; p=, 00) were found.
Conclusions
Life satisfaction increases and social isolation and loneliness decreases when elderly people living in nursing homes participate in social activities.
Key messages
Loneliness of elderly individuals can be reduced by increasing participation in social activities. Social isolation of elderly individuals can be reduced by increasing participation in social activities.