Social Connections in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Patient Perspectives
Objective Interpersonal relationships are crucial to healthy aging. Social isolation is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in older adults, including depression. Those with chronic conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), may be particularly vulnerable to social isolatio...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | ACR Open Rheumatology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11801 |
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| author | Sarah B. Lieber Sarah R. Young Yvonne Shea Sarah P. Gottesman Robyn Lipschultz Dongmei Sun M. Carrington Reid Lisa A. Mandl Iris Navarro‐Millán |
| author_facet | Sarah B. Lieber Sarah R. Young Yvonne Shea Sarah P. Gottesman Robyn Lipschultz Dongmei Sun M. Carrington Reid Lisa A. Mandl Iris Navarro‐Millán |
| author_sort | Sarah B. Lieber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Interpersonal relationships are crucial to healthy aging. Social isolation is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in older adults, including depression. Those with chronic conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), may be particularly vulnerable to social isolation. In this qualitative study, we elicited lived experiences of older adults with SLE related to social connections and emotional health. Methods Adults ≥65 years of age with SLE participated in semistructured interviews based on a descriptive phenomenological design to describe the experience of aging with SLE. We collected self‐reported data on sociodemographic and disease characteristics, social networks, and health‐related quality of life. We probed participants regarding their interpersonal relationships and the effect of SLE on general health in the context of aging. We analyzed qualitative data thematically. Results Among 30 participants with a mean age of 71.3 years, three themes emerged as essential to characterizing aging with SLE: (1) social isolation, (2) perceived burden to loved ones, and (3) adverse mental health effects of SLE. Participants frequently reported social isolation, often related to SLE disease manifestations rather than unavailability of social networks and situated within the context of burdening loved ones and mental health effects of SLE. Conclusion Social isolation was commonly reported by older adults with SLE. Larger observational studies are needed to improve characterization of social isolation in this population and understand its association with depression and other adverse health outcomes. Investigational studies integrating strategies to improve social isolation in older adults with SLE may improve their health and well‐being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c8b99d6b2e7240c79f8d865b96b56e12 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2578-5745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ACR Open Rheumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c8b99d6b2e7240c79f8d865b96b56e122025-08-20T03:11:24ZengWileyACR Open Rheumatology2578-57452025-02-0172n/an/a10.1002/acr2.11801Social Connections in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Patient PerspectivesSarah B. Lieber0Sarah R. Young1Yvonne Shea2Sarah P. Gottesman3Robyn Lipschultz4Dongmei Sun5M. Carrington Reid6Lisa A. Mandl7Iris Navarro‐Millán8Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine New York New YorkWeill Cornell Medicine New York New YorkHospital for Special Surgery New York New YorkHospital for Special Surgery New York New YorkNew York University Grossman School of Medicine New YorkHospital for Special Surgery New York New YorkWeill Cornell Medicine New York New YorkHospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine New York New YorkHospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine New York New YorkObjective Interpersonal relationships are crucial to healthy aging. Social isolation is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in older adults, including depression. Those with chronic conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), may be particularly vulnerable to social isolation. In this qualitative study, we elicited lived experiences of older adults with SLE related to social connections and emotional health. Methods Adults ≥65 years of age with SLE participated in semistructured interviews based on a descriptive phenomenological design to describe the experience of aging with SLE. We collected self‐reported data on sociodemographic and disease characteristics, social networks, and health‐related quality of life. We probed participants regarding their interpersonal relationships and the effect of SLE on general health in the context of aging. We analyzed qualitative data thematically. Results Among 30 participants with a mean age of 71.3 years, three themes emerged as essential to characterizing aging with SLE: (1) social isolation, (2) perceived burden to loved ones, and (3) adverse mental health effects of SLE. Participants frequently reported social isolation, often related to SLE disease manifestations rather than unavailability of social networks and situated within the context of burdening loved ones and mental health effects of SLE. Conclusion Social isolation was commonly reported by older adults with SLE. Larger observational studies are needed to improve characterization of social isolation in this population and understand its association with depression and other adverse health outcomes. Investigational studies integrating strategies to improve social isolation in older adults with SLE may improve their health and well‐being.https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11801 |
| spellingShingle | Sarah B. Lieber Sarah R. Young Yvonne Shea Sarah P. Gottesman Robyn Lipschultz Dongmei Sun M. Carrington Reid Lisa A. Mandl Iris Navarro‐Millán Social Connections in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Patient Perspectives ACR Open Rheumatology |
| title | Social Connections in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Patient Perspectives |
| title_full | Social Connections in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Patient Perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Social Connections in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Patient Perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social Connections in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Patient Perspectives |
| title_short | Social Connections in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Patient Perspectives |
| title_sort | social connections in older adults with systemic lupus erythematosus patient perspectives |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11801 |
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