Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: barriers and recommendations
ObjectiveSocial connections and participation are essential for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to prevent the progression of cognitive decline and enhance their overall well-being. However, existing research has primarily focused on environmental barriers, overlooking personal fact...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1188887/full |
| _version_ | 1827907668039172096 |
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| author | Di Zhu Di Zhu Abdullah Al Mahmud Wei Liu |
| author_facet | Di Zhu Di Zhu Abdullah Al Mahmud Wei Liu |
| author_sort | Di Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveSocial connections and participation are essential for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to prevent the progression of cognitive decline and enhance their overall well-being. However, existing research has primarily focused on environmental barriers, overlooking personal factors and the interconnected nature of these barriers. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding regarding social connections and participation challenges specific to people with MCI in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers that hinder social connections and participation among people with MCI in China and investigate opportunities to design appropriate supportive interventions.MethodsThirty-one people with MCI (13 males and 18 females; mean age = 82.74 years, SD = 7.69; mean MoCA score = 21.26, SD = 2.44) and 13 caregivers were recruited to attend focus groups. In addition, 10 therapists were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a framework analysis approach.ResultsWe found that the ability to build social connections among people with MCI is affected by mobility challenges, intensive grandparenting responsibilities, availability of suitable activities, and feelings of exclusion in a closed-minded community environment. Personal reasons, such as lower social efficacy, inability to find suitable social activities, and intensive family responsibilities, discourage people with MCI from social participation. The digital literacy of people with MCI depends on their motivation to learn and use digital tools; people with MCI who live in a community have a higher digital literacy than those living in care centers. The motivation to achieve digital literacy is affected by perceived benefits, costs of technology use, and social influence.ConclusionMultidimensional initiatives are needed to address barriers to social connections, participation, and technology adoption among individuals with MCI. This includes organizing and engaging in social activities, promoting awareness and education on the importance of social participation, and exploring technology-based interventions to improve memory and storytelling abilities. These efforts can create a supportive environment and empower individuals with MCI to participate actively in social interactions, enhancing their overall well-being. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:11:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06c1ef0fb26f45c0b423edd4460d1bb7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:11:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-06c1ef0fb26f45c0b423edd4460d1bb72023-07-05T17:53:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402023-07-011410.3389/fpsyt.2023.11888871188887Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: barriers and recommendationsDi Zhu0Di Zhu1Abdullah Al Mahmud2Wei Liu3Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, AustraliaBeijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaSwinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, AustraliaBeijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaObjectiveSocial connections and participation are essential for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to prevent the progression of cognitive decline and enhance their overall well-being. However, existing research has primarily focused on environmental barriers, overlooking personal factors and the interconnected nature of these barriers. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding regarding social connections and participation challenges specific to people with MCI in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers that hinder social connections and participation among people with MCI in China and investigate opportunities to design appropriate supportive interventions.MethodsThirty-one people with MCI (13 males and 18 females; mean age = 82.74 years, SD = 7.69; mean MoCA score = 21.26, SD = 2.44) and 13 caregivers were recruited to attend focus groups. In addition, 10 therapists were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a framework analysis approach.ResultsWe found that the ability to build social connections among people with MCI is affected by mobility challenges, intensive grandparenting responsibilities, availability of suitable activities, and feelings of exclusion in a closed-minded community environment. Personal reasons, such as lower social efficacy, inability to find suitable social activities, and intensive family responsibilities, discourage people with MCI from social participation. The digital literacy of people with MCI depends on their motivation to learn and use digital tools; people with MCI who live in a community have a higher digital literacy than those living in care centers. The motivation to achieve digital literacy is affected by perceived benefits, costs of technology use, and social influence.ConclusionMultidimensional initiatives are needed to address barriers to social connections, participation, and technology adoption among individuals with MCI. This includes organizing and engaging in social activities, promoting awareness and education on the importance of social participation, and exploring technology-based interventions to improve memory and storytelling abilities. These efforts can create a supportive environment and empower individuals with MCI to participate actively in social interactions, enhancing their overall well-being.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1188887/fullsocial participationpeople with MCIdementiasocial connectionstechnology |
| spellingShingle | Di Zhu Di Zhu Abdullah Al Mahmud Wei Liu Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: barriers and recommendations Frontiers in Psychiatry social participation people with MCI dementia social connections technology |
| title | Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: barriers and recommendations |
| title_full | Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: barriers and recommendations |
| title_fullStr | Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: barriers and recommendations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: barriers and recommendations |
| title_short | Social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment: barriers and recommendations |
| title_sort | social connections and participation among people with mild cognitive impairment barriers and recommendations |
| topic | social participation people with MCI dementia social connections technology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1188887/full |
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