Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40751916›Full record

SynthesisThe Journal of frailty & aging2025

The conceptualisation and measurement of social frailty in older people: an umbrella review.

Martin Webber, Beth Casey, Laura Tucker, Kirsty Shires, Mark Wilberforce, Barbara Hanratty, Louise Tomkow, David Sinclair, Jennifer Liddle, Dawn Sissons and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Journal of frailty & aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Rethink poverty during age: Time for Umberto D. again.The Journal of frailty & aging · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Martin WebberMental Health Social Care Research Centre, School for Business and Society, University of York, UK. Electronic address: martin.webber@york.ac.uk.
Beth CaseyMental Health Social Care Research Centre, School for Business and Society, University of York, UK.
Laura TuckerMental Health Social Care Research Centre, School for Business and Society, University of York, UK.
Kirsty ShiresMental Health Social Care Research Centre, School for Business and Society, University of York, UK.
Mark WilberforceMental Health Social Care Research Centre, School for Business and Society, University of York, UK.
Barbara HanrattyPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK.
Louise TomkowDivision of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
David SinclairPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK.
Jennifer LiddlePopulation Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK.
Dawn SissonsKingston upon Hull City Council, UK.
Lynette JoubertDepartment of Social Work, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe social domain of frailty is often poorly defined or missing from measures of frailty. The literature is still inconclusive on the nature and scope of social frailty, although studies indicate that it has a substantial impact on disability and mortality outcomes.

aimsThis Umbrella Review aimed to synthesise concepts and measures of social frailty.

methodsA search for reviews was performed in Web of Science, CINAHL, SOCINDEX, Medline, PsychoINFO and COSMIN databases. This Umbrella Review was conducted and reported with reference to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Reviewer's Manual. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Review was used to assess the quality of studies.

resultsSixteen reviews were included. The concept of social frailty was summarised as weakness in a person's social infrastructure compounded by a declining ability to change their circumstances. Forty-two measures of social frailty were identified which included a total of 228 items relating to social frailty. These were grouped into nine domains, of which participation in social activities was most commonly included within measures.

conclusionThe use of diverse indicators creates a challenge for the measurement of social frailty. Their limited use in health and social care practice undermines the practical utility of the concept. This review helps to provide conceptual clarity and a platform for the development and validation of a robust social frailty measure which will facilitate the identification of people at risk and target interventions to prevent or alleviate the impact of social frailty on older people.

Indexed as

Frail ElderlyFrailtyGeriatric AssessmentSocial ParticipationAgedAged, 80 and overHumansReview Literature as TopicConceptualisationMeasurementSocial environmentSocial frailtySystematic reviewUmbrella review

Identifiers

PMID40751916
PMCPMC12702443

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.