Effects of a visiting service for older widowed individuals: a randomized clinical trial.
The loss of the partner is an important risk factor for developing serious psychological problems. In this study the authors examined the effect of the visiting service on the mental health and quality of life of older widowed individuals. They conducted a pragmatic randomized trial. All respondents were randomly assigned to a visiting service (n = 110) or a control condition (n = 106) and were interviewed at baseline, at 6 months, and at 12 months after baseline. The visiting service was not more effective than the control condition in the overall sample. However, socially lonely, physically ill, or low-educated respondents improved more in the experimental group than in the control group.
Department of Prevention and Early Intervention, Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands. sonrust@trimbos.nl
Simone
S
Onrust
Department of Prevention and Early Intervention, Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Godelief
G
Willemse
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Jan
J
van den Bout
Department of Prevention and Early Intervention, Trimbos Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Pim
P
Cuijpers
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data