Facilitators to alleviate loneliness and social isolation as identified by individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders: A qualitative study.
Sherri L LaVela, Robert W Motl, Kelsey Berryman and 5 others
PMID 38271018WHAT IT FOUND
Veterans with spinal cord injuries identified eight strategies to ease loneliness, ranging from pursuing hobbies and getting outside to connecting with peers who share their experience.
They emphasized that acceptance of their new normal and finding a sense of purpose were critical internal shifts.
Key findings
01Participants identified eight themes as facilitators for alleviating loneliness: pursuing interests, interacting with others, embracing acceptance, engaging in reciprocity, finding purpose, getting outside, connecting with the SCI/D community, and seeking mental health help.
02Connecting with peers who have spinal cord injuries was described as particularly helpful because shared experiences made them relatable and reduced feelings of isolation.
03Participants noted that engaging in reciprocity, such as volunteering or mentoring other veterans with SCI/D, helped them feel useful and empowered, which reduced loneliness.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only Veterans receiving care at the Veterans Health Administration, so findings may not generalize to civilians with SCI/D or Veterans using other healthcare systems. Participants were mostly male (70%) and white (78%), with an average age of 66 years, which may not represent younger or more diverse populations with SCI/D. Self-selection bias is possible, as only individuals who chose to respond to invitation letters participated. The sample size was small (23 participants), though saturation was reached, limiting the transferability of findings to the broader population.
Declared interests
The study was approved by the Hines VA Institutional Review Board. No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were explicitly detailed in the provided text beyond the standard ethical approval and data availability statements.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these eight themes as evidence that specific interventions work to reduce loneliness. This study describes what patients perceive as helpful strategies, not tested outcomes of clinical programs.