Occupational therapy, loneliness and social isolation : a thematic review of the literature

Collins, T; Davys, D; Martin, RE; Russell, RC; Kenney, CE

Abstract

Background/Aims: Loneliness and social isolation are thought to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. There is little literature that provides an explicit focus on loneliness and social isolation in occupational therapy practice. The aim of this study was to explore themes related to loneliness and social isolation in occupational therapy-related literature and consider the implications for practice.

Methods: CINAHL, Medline, Pub Med, AMed, PsycINFO, TRIP Database, and Science direct and Web of science databases were used to identify articles pertaining to occupational therapy, loneliness and social isolation.

Results: A total of 20 articles were included and three themes were identified: loneliness and social isolation are detrimental to health and wellbeing; factors associated with increased loneliness and social isolation; factors that protect against the impact of loneliness and social isolation.

Conclusions: Loneliness and social isolation have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the people occupational therapists work with. Occupational therapy practice should include the recognition and assessment of loneliness and social isolation, and interventions to help reduce any impacts on health and wellbeing.

Citation

Collins, T., Davys, D., Martin, R., Russell, R., & Kenney, C. (2020). Occupational therapy, loneliness and social isolation : a thematic review of the literature. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 27(10), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2019.0044

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 1, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 31, 2020
• Publication Date: Oct 2, 2020
• Deposit Date: Nov 9, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 30, 2021
• Journal: International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation
• Print ISSN: 1741-1645
• Electronic ISSN: 1759-779X
• Publisher: MA Healthcare
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1-23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2019.0044
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2019.0044
• Related Public URLs: https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/toc/ijtr/current
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From Crossref journal articles via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: eissn 1759-779X **History: issued 02-10-2020; published 02-10-2020; Access Information : This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2019.0044.