Tools & Instruments for Measuring Social Isolation

Those living in rural areas can suffer the effects of social isolation when unable to interact with their community.

A problem for both the very old and those living in rural situations, social isolation can cause its victims to feel undervalued, disconnected, and even clinically depressed. Unfortunately, like many mental conditions, symptoms of social isolation don't always manifest in obvious ways. Because of this, sociologists and psychologists have devised tools to help detect and measure social isolation in individuals and populations.

Surveys

Determining whether an individual is socially isolated can be difficult, since social isolation is a subjective term and means different things to different people. To conquer this problem, social scientists use surveys with several questions to assess whether a person is socially isolated. Rather than ask direct questions such as "Do you feel socially isolated?" these surveys ask questions designed to gauge the level of interaction the individual feels he has with others. These questions include "How often do you spend quality time with a loved one?" or "How often do you feel out of touch from what goes on around you?" By asking questions such as these, a researcher can detect social isolation even among nursing home patients who are constantly around people.

Scales

Of course, once a survey has indicated that a subject may be socially isolated, determining exactly how the subject is isolated is key. Scientists use scales, such as the "Friendship Scale," to provide clear information on how the subject feels about his position with friends, co-workers and patient care help. This type of scale uses a percentage and can be filled out by the subject in test format. Prompts such as "It has been easy to relate to others" and "I had someone to share my feelings with" give researchers a way to understand exactly how isolated an environment is for a subject.

Demographics

Once it has been determined that several subjects have felt the effects of social isolation, the next tool researchers turn to is social demographics. Social demographics accumulate previously recorded surveys and scales, allowing you to draw a picture of how social isolation is impacting different social groups. Groups can be divided according to gender, race, age, proximity, or any other feature that you find relevant.

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies are repeated studies of the same subjects over time. These studies are often the most accurate because they study a population not only at one given point in time, but over the course of changing situations. For example, a nursing home that has just opened its doors to new patients may record a higher degree of social isolation on its opening year than it would five years later when both patients and staff have had time to settle in.

References

• Macquarie University: Development of an Assessment Tool for HACC Services
• Cambridge University Press; Preventing Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older People: a Systematic Review of Health Promotion Interventions; Mima Cattan, Martin White, John Bond, Alison Learmouth; 2005
• Deakin University: Measuring Social Isolation in the Australian Older Population