Conceptualising loneliness and social connectedness for PwLD v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Conceptualising loneliness for people with learning disabilities (PwLD): a co-designed intervention to support social connectedness in social care settings
IRAS ID
319921
Contact name
Carys Banks
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 8 months, 3 days
Research summary
This study will conceptualise how PwLD living in full-time support settings experience loneliness and will co-design an intervention to assist staff in better supporting PwLD to be more social connected in their lives.
Loneliness is a serious problem, negatively impacting people’s physical and mental health. PwLD are many times more likely to be lonely they die 15-20 years earlier than the general population. Social connectedness may alleviate some physical and psychological symptoms experienced as a result of long-term loneliness.
First, we need to better understand how PwLD subjectively experience loneliness and how they can be better socially connected in their lives. Second, staff in LD support settings are well placed to help with this but to date are an underused resource in terms of facilitating social connectedness for people they support.
This study divided into three Phases:
Phase 1: creative workshops will be undertaken with PwLD. Creative methods provide an accessible way for PwLD to communicate, reducing the barriers they may experience in talking about their experiences of loneliness and social connectedness. This will develop a conceptualisation of loneliness/social connectedness from the perspective of PwLD themselves.
Phase 2: in-depth observational case studies of four different types of LD full time settings in England. This work will develop an understanding of interactions between staff and PwLD, focusing on whether people are being supported to develop meaningful social connections.
Phase 3: based on learning from the above Phases, an intervention will be co-designed with a range of LD stakeholders to develop training and guidance that will assist staff in helping PwLD be more socially connected in their lives.
Research findings will be released though publications, conferences and communications with policy and LD service providers. Accessible findings will also be made accessible to PwLD, their family/friends and professionals.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
25/IEC08/0012
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion