Social frailty in older adults: A concept analysis

Background: Social frailty has been increasingly prevalent due to the aging populations. This concept is a relatively new topic in the gerontology. Older adults experiencing social isolation because of social frailty remain in a state of loneliness or depression. Many misconceptions exist regarding the association between social frailty and high levels of loneliness and depression in older adults, which may exacerbate their condition. Objective: To analyze the concept of social frailty on the basis of method introduced by Rodgers and Knafl. Design: Rodgers and Knafl' evolutionary concept analysis Information sources: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase were searched for the terms “Social frailty” and “Elderly” OR “Older adults” OR “Aged.” Results: A total of 65 articles on social frailty were selected from 4 databases and subjected to concept analysis based on Rodgers and Knafl’ evolutionary concept. Data extraction and analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The analysis yielded 4 domains (11 subdomains) of antecedents, 3 attributes, and 2 domains (28 subdomains) of consequences. Conclusion: The study findings contribute to a comprehensive and structured understanding of social frailty for health-care workers and the general public. Emphasizing the concept of social frailty can increase the levels of awareness and vigilance among health-care workers regarding the risks associated with social frailty in older adults.