Transcultural and Psychometric Validation of the Lubben Social Network Scale in Older Adults Living in the French West Indies (VALLUB)

Social isolation and loneliness are common among older adults. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality, with an impact comparable to that of other known risk factors such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, etc.

To date, there is no tool to measure social isolation and loneliness for patients living in the French West Indies. Applying unadapted and unvalidated tools to them without taking into account local ethnocultural realities would be risky.

The investigators believe it is necessary to adapt the scales used to measure social isolation and loneliness for a population living in the French West Indies.

Through this study, the investigators propose adapting the Lubben Social Network Scale, a social isolation questionnaire, for this population and conducting its psychometric validation.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Geriatric Assessment; Patients Over 65 Years Old
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Self-assessment questionnaire

Detailed Description

Social isolation and loneliness are common among older adults. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality, with an impact comparable to that of other known risk factors such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, etc.

Loneliness is a subjective concept of social relationships, most often reflecting a negative feeling.

Social isolation, on the other hand, is an objective concept of social relationships and refers to infrequent or rare contact with family and friends and can also include living alone.

The feeling of loneliness is linked to social isolation, although the association is only partial.

Indeed, some socially isolated people do not always experience loneliness; and some people living alone are not always socially isolated.

Two theories of loneliness argue that a mismatch between expectations and realities of social contact (cognitive theory) and a lack of intimate or social relationships (deficit theory) can lead to feelings of social or emotional loneliness.

A meta-analysis showed that the risk of premature death was 26% higher in people experiencing loneliness, 29% higher in those who were socially isolated, and 32% higher in the group living alone.

Another meta-analysis examined the effects of loneliness and social isolation on (among other things) mortality. The results showed that loneliness and social isolation were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality.

The authors conclude that further research is needed to confirm whether loneliness and social isolation have a direct impact on mortality, or whether the association is indirect via the cardiovascular system and psychological health.

To date, there is no tool to measure social isolation and loneliness for patients living in the French West Indies. Applying unsuitable and unvalidated tools to them without taking into account local ethnocultural realities would be risky.

The investigators believe it is necessary to adapt the scales used to measure social isolation and loneliness for a population living in the French West Indies.

Through this study, the investigators propose adapting the Lubben Social Network Scale, a social isolation questionnaire, for this population and conducting its psychometric validation.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 150

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Nadine SIMO TABUE, MD; Phone Number: +596 05 96 48 81 95; Email: nadine.tabueteguo@chu-martinique.fr

Study Locations

• Martinique
  • Fort-de-France, Martinique, 97261
    • CHU of Martinique
    • Contact: Nadine SIMO TABUE, MD; Phone Number: +596 05 96 48 81 95; Email: nadine.tabueteguo@chu-martinique.fr
    • Principal Investigator: Nadine SIMO TABUE, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients aged of 65 or older

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient ≥ 65 years old,
• Hospitalized (Geriatric Day Hospital (HDJ) or Geriatric Medical Care and Rehabilitation Service (SMT)), or seen in geriatric external consultation,
• MMS ≥ 20,
• Patient able to understand and answer a self-administered questionnaire in French,
• Patient having been informed of the research,
• Patient agreeing to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient with sensory disorders preventing completion of the questionnaire,
• Patient unable to consent to participate in the study,
• Patient under legal protection, guardianship, or curatorship,
• Patient who has refused to participate in the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Patients aged 65 or older; For the transcultural validation, a french version of the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire will be produced. For the psychometric validation, 150 patients aged of 65 or older will pass the questionnaire. The Duke Health Profile questionnaire will be also passed by the subject, for the convergent validity.	Other: Self-assessment questionnaire; 150 patients aged of 65 or older will pass the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire. The Duke Health Profile questionnaire will be also passed by the subject, for the convergent validity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Transcultural validation of the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire	It will be a question of obtaining a version translated into French. The translated version tested on a small group of patients (15-40) will be submitted to the author of the original version of the tool, along with a report highlighting and explaining all the modifications and difficulties noted by a group of experts.	1 month
Psychometric validation of the Lubben Social Network Scale questionnaire	Questionnaire will be passed by 150 subjects. Following parameters will be measured: feasibility and acceptability, validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change.	24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital Center of Martinique

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 27, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 3, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 15, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 12, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Geriatrics; Psychometric validation; French West Indies; Martinique; Transcultural validation; Lubben Social Network Scale
• Other Study ID Numbers: 24_RIPH3-05; 2024-A02609-38 (Registry Identifier: ID-RCB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No