The experience of older women living with loneliness and chronic conditions in Appalachia.

Abstract

This phenomenological qualitative study explored the experience of living with loneliness and multiple chronic conditions for rural older women in Appalachia. The study took place in 2012 in Northern West Virginia. Participants were 14 older women who were chronically ill, community dwelling, and lonely (Score of 40 or higher on the Revised 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale). Thematic content analysis revealed four categories that contained thirteen themes: (a) negative emotions of loneliness, which included themes of sadness, disconnection, fear, anger, and worry; (b) positive emotions when not lonely, which included themes of joy with others and pride in self; (c) loss of independence and loneliness, which included themes of functional decline contributes to loneliness, burden, and gratitude for help; and (d) ways of managing loneliness, which included remembering holidays and happier moments, staying busy, and getting out. The study contributes new knowledge about the experience of anger, fear, and worry when lonely. These emotions have not extensively been identified as significant to loneliness. Future studies exploring the links between loneliness and anger, fear, worry, and negative physical health outcomes could enhance knowledge of mechanisms by which loneliness contributes to health decline. Additionally, knowing that positive emotions such as joy are described as being linked to less lonely times could inform future work that aims to diminish loneliness and enhance positive emotional states. Finally, understanding that functional impairment is described as contributing to loneliness in this population reinforces the need to assess for and address functional limitations.

“To be lonely in your own loneliness”: The interplay between self‐perceived loneliness and rheumatoid arthritis in everyday life: A qualitative study

“…There is a large amount of research studying loneliness in different population segments. Special attention has been drawn to old and very young population groups (15), and there are several studies on loneliness in people with chronic illness in these specific age groups (13,16,17). Studies involving adult patients with RA are mainly quantitative, focusing on the prevalence of loneliness and its impact on inflammation, cardio-vascular disease, and mortality (18)(19)(20)(21).…”

Effectiveness of LISTEN on loneliness, neuroimmunological stress response, psychosocial functioning, quality of life, and physical health measures of chronic illness

“…Lonely older women suffering from chronic illness and living in Appalachia reported that their experience of loneliness is related to negative emotions including fear, anger, and worry. They reported that loneliness can lead to loss of function or independence [ 38 ]. Conversely, these women reported positive emotions such as joy when the feeling of loneliness is absent.…”

“…Conversely, these women reported positive emotions such as joy when the feeling of loneliness is absent. Participants of the qualitative studies on loneliness in Appalachia reported that staying busy and going out were important to the management of loneliness [ 38 ]. This paper presents the effectiveness of LISTEN, an intervention designed to target impaired cognitive processes associated with loneliness, on the psychosocial and physiological measures in a sample of lonely, chronically ill adults living in the communities of Appalachia.…”

Concept analysis of loneliness in older adults: A hybrid model

“…Attributes are 'those characteristics of a concept which appear over and over again' when the concept is defined [15]. Literature review indicated ten key attributes for the concept of loneliness in older adults: 'subjective phenomenon' [16][17][18][19][20][21], 'lack of meaningful interpersonal relationships' [16,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25], 'a wall of sorrow and pain loneliness' [16,[19][20][21][26][27][28], 'struggle for energy and resilience' [16,19,24,29,30], 'loneliness as a time-related experience' [16,24,31], 'lack and deprivation' [32][33][34][35], 'feeling useless, isolated and unable to keep up with the flow of life' [18, 20-23, 27, 28, 36].…”