Existential Loneliness Among Older People from the Perspective of Health Care Professionals: A European Multicenter Study

Anna-Karin Edberg; Giusy Trogu; Alessandra Manattini; Agnieszka Renn-Żurek; Daria Maria Modrzejewska; Elżbieta Barbara Woźnicka; Silvia Popovici; Liliana Pintilie; Ingela Beck; Akvilė Virbalienė; Aurelija Šiurienė

doi:10.2147/PRBM.S408547

Existential Loneliness Among Older People from the Perspective of Health Care Professionals: A European Multicenter Study

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2023 Jun 20:16:2241-2252. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S408547. eCollection 2023.

Affiliations

¹ Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
² Anziani e non solo Societá Cooperativa Sociale, Carpi, Italy.
³ University of Humanities and Economics, Lodz, Poland.
⁴ Stefan Batory State University, Skierniewice, Poland.
⁵ Asociatia Demetrius, Iasi, Romania.
⁶ Executive Office of the Order of General Nurses, Midwives and Nurses in Romania, Iasi, Romania.
⁷ Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences, Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Abstract

Introduction: Health care professionals (HCPs) encounter different forms of loneliness in their work. It is essential that they have the courage, skills, and tools to deal with loneliness, in particular with existential loneliness (EL) which relates to meaning in life and the fundamentals of living and dying.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate HCPs' views on loneliness among older people and their understanding, perception, and professional experience of EL in older people.

Materials and methods: In all, 139 HCPs from five European countries participated in audio-recorded focus group and individual interviews. The transcribed materials were locally analyzed using a predefined template. The participating countries' results were then translated, merged, and inductively analyzed using conventional content analysis.

Results: Participants described different forms of loneliness - a negative form that is unwanted and causes suffering, and a positive form where solitude is desired and sought. The results showed that the HCPs' knowledge and understanding of EL varied. The HCPs mainly related EL to different types of loss, eg loss of autonomy, independence, hope, and faith, and to concern alienation, guilt, regret and remorse, and concerns about the future.

Discussion and conclusions: The HCPs expressed a need to improve their sensitivity and self-confidence to engage in existential conversations. They also stated the need to increase their knowledge and understanding of aging, death, and dying. Based on these results, a training program aimed to increase knowledge and understanding of older people's situation has been developed. The program includes practical training in conversations about emotional and existential aspects, based on recurrent reflections on the topics presented. The program is available at: www.aloneproject.eu.

Keywords: existential loneliness; health care professionals; multicenter study; older people; qualitative.

Grants and funding

This work has been funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme as part of the project “Innovative Health Professionals Training Program on Existential Loneliness among Older People”, ALONE (project No. 2019-1-PL01-KA202-064933). The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained herein.