title: Autonomy and social functioning of recently admitted nursing home residents.
abstract: This paper examines recently admitted nursing home residents' practical autonomy, their remaining social environment and their social functioning.
  
  
  
  In a cross-sectional design, 391 newly admitted residents of 67 nursing homes participated. All respondents were ≥65 years old, had mini-mental state examination ≥18 and were living in the nursing home for at least 1 month. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and validated measuring tools.
  
  
  
  The mean age was 84, 64% were female, 23% had a partner, 80% children, 75% grandchildren and 59% siblings. The mean social functioning score was 3/9 (or 33%) and the autonomy and importance of autonomy score 6/9 (or 67%). More autonomy was observed when residents could perform activities of daily living more independently, and cognitive functioning, quality of life and social functioning were high. Residents with depressive feelings scored lower on autonomy and social functioning compared to those without depressive feelings. Having siblings and the frequency of visits positively correlated with social functioning. In turn, social functioning correlated positively with quality of life. Moreover, a higher score on social functioning lowered the probability of depression.
  
  
  
  Autonomy or self-determination and maintaining remaining social relationships were considered to be important by the new residents. The remaining social environment, social functioning, quality of life, autonomy and depressive feelings influenced each other, but the cause--effect relation was not clear.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Science , Centre For Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), University of Antwerp , Wilrijk , Belgium.|d VTI Institute of Nursing , Hasselt , Belgium.
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1331-0572
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paque
authors.affiliation: e AZ St-Blasius , Dendermonde , Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Science , Centre For Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), University of Antwerp , Wilrijk , Belgium.|c Heymans Institute of Pharmacology , University of Ghent , Ghent , Belgium.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elseviers
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Science , Centre For Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), University of Antwerp , Wilrijk , Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Bogaert
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Science , Centre For Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), University of Antwerp , Wilrijk , Belgium.|b Department of Nursing and Midwifery , Thomas More University College , Lier , Belgium.
authors.forename: Tinne
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dilles
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Autonomy; depressive feelings; quality of life; social functioning