Univerza na Primorskem Fakulteta za matematiko, naravoslovje in informacijske tehnologije
Več informacij o projektu / More info about the project
Vsebina projekta / Project content
SLO
V Sloveniji količnik samomora v zadnjih dveh desetletjih upada, pri čemer pa za skupino starostnikov nad 65 let tovrstnega upada ni zaznati. In medtem ko je razmerje med poskusi samomora in samomori v splošni populaciji giblje med 10:1 in 30:1, je to razmerje pri starostnikih bistveno nižje in se giblje med 2:1 in 4:1 (De Leo in Arnautovska, 2016), kar lahko povezujemo z večjo odločenostjo posameznikov za samomor in s pogosto spregledanimi stiskami starostnikov s strani okolice.
Pomemben napovednik samomorilnosti med starejšimi so duševne motnje. Med pomembnejšimi psihološkimi dejavniki tveganja pa sta tudi socialna izolacija in osamljenost Osamljenost je pomemben javnozdravstveni problem, saj napoveduje nizko kakovost življenja starejše populacije in pušča škodljive posledice na področju duševnega in telesnega zdravja . Poleg tega pa je osamljenost prepoznana kot posredni, kot tudi neposredni napovednik umrljivosti pri starostnikih. Gre torej za kompleksen pojav, ki izpostavlja potrebo po oblikovanju učinkovitih pristopov in intervencij za zmanjšanje osamljenosti pri starostnikih.
Osrednji namen raziskave je preučiti različne pristope k zmanjšanju socialne izolacije in osamljenosti starostnikov ter identificirati najučinkovitejše načine, s katerimi bi lahko preko zmanjšanja osamljenosti delovali preventivno na področju razvoja težav v duševnem zdravju, duševnih bolezni in samomorilnega vedenja.
Cilji raziskave so (i) raziskati obstoječe pristope, dejavnosti in intervencije namenjene zmanjšanju ali preprečevanju socialne izolacije in osamljenosti; (ii) raziskati povezanost med uporabo različnih pristopov za zmanjšanje osamljenosti in težavami v duševnem zdravju ter samomorilnem vedenju; (iii) poglobljeno raziskati subjektivni pogled uporabnikov na različne obstoječe pristopi, dejavnosti in intervencije za zmanjšanje socialne izolacije in osamljenosti; (iv) oblikovati smernice za pripravo učinkovitih, kvalitetnih in kulturno relevantnih intervencij; (v) na podlagi smernic zastaviti, preizkusiti in evalvirati intervencijo za zmanjšanje občutka osamljenosti in krepitev duševnega zdravja.
V raziskavo bomo zajeli starostnike, starejše od 65 let, ki bodo sodelovali v kvantitativni in kvalitativni študiji na temo osamljenosti, duševnega zdravja, samomorilnega vedenja in intervencij, ki ta področja naslavljajo. Na podlagi ugotovitev in informacij zbranih v kvantitativnem in kvalitativnem delu raziskave bo v nadaljnji fazi projekta sledilo oblikovanje intervencije za zmanjšanje občutka osamljenosti. V zadnjem sklopu projekta bo sledila pilotna izvedba intervencije s pilotno evalvacijo učinkov intervencije, na način, da bomo merili neposredne učinke na zmanjšanje osamljenosti in izboljšanje duševnega zdravja z aplikacijo vprašalnikov ter posredne učinke preko merjenja zadovoljstva udeležencev z izvedeno intervencijo.
Predlagani projekt bo nadgradil obstoječa znanja o preventivi samomora v ranljivi skupini starostnikov. Pridobili bomo poglobljena znanja, ki jih bomo neposredno prenesli v prakso z implementacijo intervencij za ranljive skupine. Naš pristop bo temeljil na pridobljenem znanju o tem, kako prilagoditi intervencije potrebam izbrani ranljivi skupin oz. njenim podskupinam.
Samomorilno vedenje ima številne posledice za družbo (npr. visoki stroški zdravstvenih intervencij, odsotnosti z dela, izguba bližnjega zaradi samomora). Znanstveno podprta prizadevanja za preprečevanje samomora so ključnega pomena, saj lahko pomagajo zmanjšati negativne posledice samomora za družbo. Ugotovitve bodo prispevale k razvoju učinkovitih preventivnih aktivnosti, ki bodo izboljšale kvaliteto intervencij, ki so na voljo izbrani ranljivi skupini, z dolgoročnim ciljem znižati pogostost samomorilnega vedenja v tej skupini.
ANG
In Slovenia, over the last two decades, the suicide rate has been decreasing, However, this decrease is not noticeable for the elderly, those over 65 years-old. While the ratio of suicide attempts to suicide among the general population ranges between 10:1 and 30:1, this ratio is significantly lower among the elderly and ranges between 2:1 and 4:1 (De Leo & Arnautovska, 2016) , which might be associated with an increased risk for suicide and with the often overlooked distress of the elderly by the society.
Mental disorders are an important predictor of suicide among the elderly. Additionally, social isolation and loneliness are among the most important psychological risk factors for suicide among the elderly. Loneliness is a major public health problem as it predicts the low quality of life of the older population and leaves adverse mental and physical health consequences. In addition, loneliness is recognised as indirect as well as a direct predictor of mortality in the elderly. It is, therefore, a complex phenomenon that highlights the need to design effective approaches and interventions to reduce loneliness in the elderly.The main purpose of the research is to explore different approaches for reducing social isolation and loneliness and to identify the most effective ways with which preventive action could be taken to reduce mental health problems, mental illness, and suicidal behaviour through the reduction of loneliness.
The aims of the research are (i) to explore existing approaches, activities and interventions designed to reduce or prevent social isolation and loneliness; (ii) to explore the link between the use of different approaches to reduce loneliness and mental health problems and suicidal behaviour; (iii) to explore in depth the subjective view of participants on the various existing approaches, activities and interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness; (iv) to develop guidelines for the preparation of effective, high-quality and culturally relevant interventions; (v) to design, test and evaluate interventions to reduce feelings of loneliness and enhance mental health.
The research project will include the elderly over 65 years old who will participate in a quantitative and qualitative study on loneliness, mental health, suicidal behaviour and interventions addressing these areas. Based on the findings and information gathered in the quantitative and qualitative part of the research, further steps will be followed to design an effective intervention to reduce feelings of loneliness. The last part of the project will focus on conducting a pilot implementation of the intervention and a pilot evaluation of the effects of the intervention We will measure the direct effects on reducing loneliness and improving mental health through the application of questionnaires, and indirect effects through measuring participants’ satisfaction with the intervention.
The proposed project will advance the existing knowledge regarding suicide prevention in vulnerable group of elderly. The results will provide further indepth knowledge, which will be directly transferred into practice by implementing interventions for the vulnerable group. Our approach will be based on the newly gained knowledge regarding how to tailor the interventions to the needs of the selected vulnerable group or its subgroups.
Suicidal behaviour has many consequences for the society, e.g. high costs of healthcare interventions, absence from work, bereavement due to suicide etc. Scientifically supported efforts towards suicide prevention are of crucial importance since they can help diminish negative consequences of suicide on society. The findings could to development of effective preventive activities which will improve the quality of interventions offered to selected vulnerable group, with the long term goal of contributing to lowering the suicidal behaviour in frequency among this group.