Transcultural and Psychometric Validation of the Lubben Social Network Scale in Older Adults Living in the French West Indies

Social isolation and loneliness are common among older adults. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality, with an impact comparable to that of other known risk factors such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, etc.

Loneliness is a subjective concept of social relationships, most often reflecting a negative feeling.

Social isolation, on the other hand, is an objective concept of social relationships and refers to infrequent or rare contact with family and friends and can also include living alone.

The feeling of loneliness is linked to social isolation, although the association is only partial.

Indeed, some socially isolated people do not always experience loneliness; and some people living alone are not always socially isolated.

Two theories of loneliness argue that a mismatch between expectations and realities of social contact (cognitive theory) and a lack of intimate or social relationships (deficit theory) can lead to feelings of social or emotional loneliness.

A meta-analysis showed that the risk of premature death was 26% higher in people experiencing loneliness, 29% higher in those who were socially isolated, and 32% higher in the group living alone.

Another meta-analysis examined the effects of loneliness and social isolation on (among other things) mortality. The results showed that loneliness and social isolation were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality.

The authors conclude that further research is needed to confirm whether loneliness and social isolation have a direct impact on mortality, or whether the association is indirect via the cardiovascular system and psychological health.

To date, there is no tool to measure social isolation and loneliness for patients living in the French West Indies. Applying unsuitable and unvalidated tools to them without taking into account local ethnocultural realities would be risky.

The investigators believe it is necessary to adapt the scales used to measure social isolation and loneliness for a population living in the French West Indies.

Through this study, the investigators propose adapting the Lubben Social Network Scale, a social isolation questionnaire, for this population and conducting its psychometric validation.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient ≥ 65 years old,
• Hospitalized (Geriatric Day Hospital (HDJ) or Geriatric Medical Care and Rehabilitation Service (SMT)), or seen in geriatric external consultation,
• MMS ≥ 20,
• Patient able to understand and answer a self-administered questionnaire in French,
• Patient having been informed of the research,
• Patient agreeing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient with sensory disorders preventing completion of the questionnaire,
• Patient unable to consent to participate in the study,
• Patient under legal protection, guardianship, or curatorship,
• Patient who has refused to participate in the study.