TITLE: EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE
QUESTION
DOES AN INCREASE IN SOCIAL SUPPORT
IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH AMONGST THE
ELDERLY?
2023
,Introduction
As individuals continue to grow older, older adults will have certain changes in their
physiological, psychological functions and mental activities. At the same time, there
will also be changes in their living environment and interpersonal relationships, which
affect the mental health of older adults to varying degrees Liu, Y.; Dijst, M.; Faber, J.;
Geertman, S.; Cui, C. (2017, 47, 80–89). Therefore, the key construct observed in the
question raised are conceptualized below.
Social support:
Social support according to Kim, J. H., & Kim, J. H. (2021), can be defined as the
assistance or comfort provided by other people to an individual in need. This support
can take many forms, including emotional, informational, and tangible assistance
(such as financial or practical help).
Social support is a broad construct that describes the network of social resources that
an individual perceives. This social network is rooted in the concepts of mutual
assistance, guidance, and validation about life experiences and decisions.
Social support may come from a partner, relatives, friends, coworkers, social and
community ties, and even a devoted pet (Allen, Blascovich, & Mendes, 2002).
Mental Health:
Mental health refers to the state of an individual's emotional, psychological, and social
well-being. Good mental health enables individuals to cope with stress, function in
daily life, and contribute to their communities. Mental health problems, on the other
hand, refer to a range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behaviour, and can
lead to significant impairment in functioning and well-being. Common mental health
problems among older adults include depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline Commented [SM1]: Yes good point which is important as
you are tailoring what is a broad subject area to your title.
(World Health Organization, 2017).
Mental health is an important aspect of overall health and well-being, and there is
growing recognition of the importance of promoting mental health and treating mental Commented [SM2]: Again important point tailoring
content to title
health conditions (World Health Organization, 2010; National Institute of Mental
Health, 2021).
Elderly
, The elderly (in this study) refers to individuals who are over a certain age, typically 65
or older. This population is sometimes referred to as older adults or seniors. As people
age, they may experience a range of physical, cognitive, and social changes that can
impact their health and well-being. Common health concerns among the elderly
include chronic diseases, mobility issues, and cognitive decline. Additionally, social
isolation and loneliness can be significant issues for elderly individuals, highlighting
the importance of social support and community engagement (World Health
Organization, 2021; National Institute on Aging, 2022).
The mental health of the elderly population is a critical issue that is becoming
increasingly important due to the aging population. Social support is widely recognized
as a protective factor for mental health in older adults, and many studies have
investigated the relationship between social support and mental health outcomes in
this population. The purpose of this critical appraisal is to evaluate the evidence on Commented [SM3]: The section about the elderly is
leading nicely to your research question
whether an increase in social support can improve the mental health of the elderly.
Research question
State precisely what the research question is.
The research question is stated as thus;
Does an increase in social support improve mental health amongst the elderly?
Rationale for research question
Among many social issues, mental health has been on the front burner over the years
especially in recent time following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic (Kim, J. H., &
Kim, J. H., 2021). Several questions have been asked on different area of interest in Commented [SM4]: Please cite your source for this.
public health space, for instance the study title “Mental Health of Older adults” carried
out by World Health Organization in 2017.
In my opinion, the use of social support towards the improvement of mental health of
the elderly needs to be recheck, hence the question raised herein is of high importance
to public health practice. This question, when answered will help to establish if an
increase in social support does improve mental health of the elderly.
The outcome of this research question will be more effective and efficient in years to
come concerning good aging and mental health. Commented [SM5]: Please can you rephrase - sorry it is a
long sentence and I'm finding it difficult to follow the points.
Also, please cite your sources for your statements of fact.
QUESTION
DOES AN INCREASE IN SOCIAL SUPPORT
IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH AMONGST THE
ELDERLY?
2023
,Introduction
As individuals continue to grow older, older adults will have certain changes in their
physiological, psychological functions and mental activities. At the same time, there
will also be changes in their living environment and interpersonal relationships, which
affect the mental health of older adults to varying degrees Liu, Y.; Dijst, M.; Faber, J.;
Geertman, S.; Cui, C. (2017, 47, 80–89). Therefore, the key construct observed in the
question raised are conceptualized below.
Social support:
Social support according to Kim, J. H., & Kim, J. H. (2021), can be defined as the
assistance or comfort provided by other people to an individual in need. This support
can take many forms, including emotional, informational, and tangible assistance
(such as financial or practical help).
Social support is a broad construct that describes the network of social resources that
an individual perceives. This social network is rooted in the concepts of mutual
assistance, guidance, and validation about life experiences and decisions.
Social support may come from a partner, relatives, friends, coworkers, social and
community ties, and even a devoted pet (Allen, Blascovich, & Mendes, 2002).
Mental Health:
Mental health refers to the state of an individual's emotional, psychological, and social
well-being. Good mental health enables individuals to cope with stress, function in
daily life, and contribute to their communities. Mental health problems, on the other
hand, refer to a range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behaviour, and can
lead to significant impairment in functioning and well-being. Common mental health
problems among older adults include depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline Commented [SM1]: Yes good point which is important as
you are tailoring what is a broad subject area to your title.
(World Health Organization, 2017).
Mental health is an important aspect of overall health and well-being, and there is
growing recognition of the importance of promoting mental health and treating mental Commented [SM2]: Again important point tailoring
content to title
health conditions (World Health Organization, 2010; National Institute of Mental
Health, 2021).
Elderly
, The elderly (in this study) refers to individuals who are over a certain age, typically 65
or older. This population is sometimes referred to as older adults or seniors. As people
age, they may experience a range of physical, cognitive, and social changes that can
impact their health and well-being. Common health concerns among the elderly
include chronic diseases, mobility issues, and cognitive decline. Additionally, social
isolation and loneliness can be significant issues for elderly individuals, highlighting
the importance of social support and community engagement (World Health
Organization, 2021; National Institute on Aging, 2022).
The mental health of the elderly population is a critical issue that is becoming
increasingly important due to the aging population. Social support is widely recognized
as a protective factor for mental health in older adults, and many studies have
investigated the relationship between social support and mental health outcomes in
this population. The purpose of this critical appraisal is to evaluate the evidence on Commented [SM3]: The section about the elderly is
leading nicely to your research question
whether an increase in social support can improve the mental health of the elderly.
Research question
State precisely what the research question is.
The research question is stated as thus;
Does an increase in social support improve mental health amongst the elderly?
Rationale for research question
Among many social issues, mental health has been on the front burner over the years
especially in recent time following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic (Kim, J. H., &
Kim, J. H., 2021). Several questions have been asked on different area of interest in Commented [SM4]: Please cite your source for this.
public health space, for instance the study title “Mental Health of Older adults” carried
out by World Health Organization in 2017.
In my opinion, the use of social support towards the improvement of mental health of
the elderly needs to be recheck, hence the question raised herein is of high importance
to public health practice. This question, when answered will help to establish if an
increase in social support does improve mental health of the elderly.
The outcome of this research question will be more effective and efficient in years to
come concerning good aging and mental health. Commented [SM5]: Please can you rephrase - sorry it is a
long sentence and I'm finding it difficult to follow the points.
Also, please cite your sources for your statements of fact.
