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

NCT ID: NCT06909591

Last Updated: 2025-06-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 150 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-12-01

Brief Summary

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.

To date, there is no tool to measure social isolation and loneliness for patients living in the French West Indies. Applying unadapted 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.

Detailed Description

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.

Conditions

Geriatric Assessment; Patients Over 65 Years Old

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Patients aged 65 or older

For the transcultural validation, a french version of the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire will be produced. For the psychometric validation, 150 patients aged of 65 or older will pass the questionnaire. The Duke Health Profile questionnaire will be also passed by the subject, for the convergent validity.

Self-assessment questionnaire

Intervention Type: OTHER

150 patients aged of 65 or older will pass the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire. The Duke Health Profile questionnaire will be also passed by the subject, for the convergent validity.

Interventions

Self-assessment questionnaire

150 patients aged of 65 or older will pass the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire. The Duke Health Profile questionnaire will be also passed by the subject, for the convergent validity.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University Hospital Center of Martinique

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

CHU of Martinique

Fort-de-France, , Martinique

Countries

Martinique

Central Contacts

Nadine SIMO TABUE, MD

Role: CONTACT

nadine.tabueteguo@chu-martinique.fr

05 96 48 81 95 ext. +596

Facility Contacts

Nadine SIMO TABUE, MD

Role: primary

nadine.tabueteguo@chu-martinique.fr

05 96 48 81 95 ext. +596

Other Identifiers

2024-A02609-38

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

24_RIPH3-05

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id