Fulfilled preferences, perceived control, life satisfaction, and loneliness in elderly long-term care residents

Person-centered care constructs such as fulfilled preferences, sense of control, and life satisfaction might contribute to loneliness among nursing home residents, but these relationships have not been thoroughly explored. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between fulfilled preferences and loneliness in nursing home residents with perceived control and life satisfaction as potential mediators.

The study utilized a cross-sectional design, examining the targeted variables with a questionnaire administered by trained research staff. A convenience sample of 65 residents (median age = 71) of eight nursing homes were interviewed. Linear regression analysis was utilized to examine the mediation hypotheses.

The relationships between fulfilled preferences and loneliness (β = -.377, p = .002), fulfilled preferences and perceived control (β = -.577, p < .001), and perceived control and loneliness (β = .606, p < .001) were significant, and the relationship between fulfilled preferences and loneliness (β = -.040, p = .744) became non-significant when perceived control was included in the model. The relationships between fulfilled preferences and life satisfaction (β = .420, p < .001) and life satisfaction and loneliness (β = -.598, p < .001) were significant, and the relationship between fulfilled preferences and loneliness (β = -.152, p = .174) became non-significant when life satisfaction was included in the model.

The findings suggest an important association between person-centered care, particularly fulfilling personal care and recreation preferences, and social-affective needs of long-term care residents. Fulfilling preferences may be an appropriate intervention target for loneliness.