Social Isolation: the association between low life satisfaction and social connectivity

Introduction: Social support is viewed as a buffering mechanism when people are in crisis.  This is particularly true when the crisis is a life altering surgery such as ostomy surgery.  Decreasing social support may be indicative of social isolation; a social disconnect associated with adverse health and life quality effects.  This study examines the relationship between social isolation and life satisfaction in a sample of ostomates that are less than 24 months post surgery (n=663). 

Methods: A comprehensive health and life assessment survey of North American and UK ostomates was conducted¹.  A life satisfaction index was compiled from the survey.  

Results: The results of the study find that 79 percent of those with a negative life satisfaction index score, in which the stoma is perceived to have a negative effect on their life, are indicated as socially isolated, per Hawthorne’s index of social isolation².  This is in comparison to 5 percent of those with a positive life satisfaction index score and the perception that the stoma has had a positive effect on their life as being socially isolated. 

Discussion: The study finds that social isolation is not exclusive to those living alone both prior to and after surgery, but manifests itself also in those with the potential for immediate social support structures.  In these individuals a social disconnect is symptomatic of alienation of spouse/life partner affection, sexual intimacy, and intercourse avoidance.

Conclusions: Social isolation is a factor that is found to affect quality of life issues in those that have undergone ostomy surgery.  Because social isolation is identifiable health care providers may incorporate counseling into their treatment regimens to overcome the negative impact of this, and facilitate a return to normalcy.