Mélanie Levasseur
Biographic Data
| ID | 891351 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Mélanie Levasseur |
| GIVEN NAMES | Mélanie |
| FAMILY NAME | Levasseur |
| SIGNATURE | LEVASSEUR M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Université de Sherbrooke |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5914-0708 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 41 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 154 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 41 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Attitudes and preferences of older adults and healthcare professionals regarding a multidisciplinary hybrid telehealth program for healthy aging
Background While aging, there is an increased risk of mobility decline, leading to deconditioning and reduced social participation in older adults. PromoSanté (short for “health promotion” in French) is a hybrid telehealth program currently under development that aims to combine in-person and remote occupational therapy, mental health and physical activity to support healthy aging among individuals with or at risk of deconditioning. Although prom…
Fostering Social Participation in Older Adults at Risk of Social Exclusion
This study aimed to describe and explore how three interventions (coffee-meetings, art workshops, guided library tours) could foster the social participation of older adults at risk of social exclusion in a revitalizing city. Using action research, the interventions were experimented in spring 2024 in Sherbrooke (Québec, Canada), with 20 older adults (71 ± 4.5; 16 women). Four focus groups involving all older participants and individual telephone…
Situations of Vulnerability, Life Satisfaction, and Social Support of Older Women and Men
Situations of vulnerability are associated with reduced life satisfaction. Although social support moderates the influence of situations of vulnerability, little is known about their associations. This study aimed to document situations of vulnerability and examine their association with life satisfaction among older adults, and the moderating effect of social support. Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data ( n = 21,491; 73.4 ± 0.04) from the…
Fostering Social Participation of Older Adults at Risk of Isolation
Despite the importance of living environments for older adults’ social participation, little was known about the influence of micro-, meso-, and macro-environments. Using semi-structured interviews and naturalistic observations, this multiple-case study explored the perspectives of 12 older adults at risk of isolation across dwelling settings. Environmental factors influencing social participation included dwelling design, social networks, mobili…
Resilience applications to social isolation and loneliness in older adults
Background: The development of a theoretical model applied to social isolation and loneliness (SI/L) among older adults has not kept pace with the exponential growth in empirical research, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. One promising but under-investigated area is the contribution of resilience models to this field. This paper provides a scoping review of the application of resilience theoretical models to social isolation and loneliness…
Adults Aged 75+ Happy in Conventional Dwelling or Independent Living Facility but Associated With Thriving and Ageism
This study aimed to compare levels of happiness of older women and men living in conventional dwellings (CD) and independent living facilities (ILF), and examine happiness’ associations with thriving, social participation, community integration and ageism (self-directed and discrimination). A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a random sample of 509 older adults in CD and 470 in ILF in Quebec, Canada. Participants’ mean age was 82.22 ± 5.3…
An updated synthesis of environmental factors influencing mobility and social participation in older adults
Mobility and social participation of older adults are highly related and often influenced by the same attributes. Results suggest potential interventions, such as creating supportive environments that enable people to continue doing what matters to them. Despite a rigorous process, relevant studies might have been overlooked, and time constraint limited both the scope of this study and inclusion of knowledge-users. Further research should conside…
Exploring keys to understanding the challenges of social participation in old age from a generational baby boomer perspective
Facilitators and Barriers for the Social Participation of Baby Boomers in Quebec, Canada
Typology of Social Participation and Network and Health in Older Adults
This study aimed to document the typology of social participation and network among older Canadians and examine their associations with health. Using 2011–2015 cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a latent profile analysis was conducted to identify patterns of social participation and network, and multinomial logistic regressions examined associations with self-rated health. Four types of social participation and ne…
Sex and gender differences in social participation among community-dwelling older adults
Contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of interventions to counter ageism toward older adults in undergraduate health and social services students
Ageism might reduce the effectiveness and quality of care in older adults essential with the aging population. Although interventions to counter ageism were carried out among students, no clear integration of their results described the mechanisms underlying their impact. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of which interventions amongst undergraduate health and social services students are effective, under which circumstanc…
Influence of Hearing Loss on Social Participation in Older Adults
This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the influence of hearing loss on social participation in older adults and including its facilitators and barriers. Following the rigorous methodological framework of scoping studies, nine multidisciplinary databases were searched with 44 keywords. Published mainly in the last decade, 41 studies using primarily a quantitative cross-sectional design were selected. Older adults with hearin…
Effect of Age-Friendly Communities Action Plan on Trajectories of Older Canadians’ Depressive Symptoms Between 2018 and 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health, this longitudinal study examined the effect of age-friendly communities (AFC) action plan on older adults' depressive symptoms. Using the CLSA, the CLSA COVID-19 Questionnaire study, survey of Canadian municipalities, and the census, the depressive symptoms trajectories were modeled with multilevel multinomial regressions. Most respondents (66.1%) had non-depressed trajectories, 28.1% experienced a…
Increased prevalence of loneliness and associated risk factors during the Covid-19 pandemic
As has been noted for various other outcomes, the pandemic did not impact all subgroups of the population in the same way with respect to loneliness. Our results suggest that public health measures aimed at reducing loneliness during a pandemic should incorporate multifactor interventions fostering positive health behaviours and consider targeting those at high risk for loneliness
Key Age-Friendly Components of Municipalities that Foster Social Participation of Aging Canadians
Examining the effects of an Educational Person-centered Intervention on Compensatory Strategies (Epics) in older adults living with frailty
This study aimed to explore effects of a two-session Educational Person-centered Intervention on Compensatory Strategies (EPICS) designed to increase knowledge of strategies, reduce barriers, and improve accomplishment of meaningful leisure activities (MLA) and well-being in older adults living with frailty. Using a double-blind concurrent mixed-methods design, 36 community-dwelling older adults were assigned to the experimental (EPICS) or contro…
How environments can promote active aging
Association between intergenerational solidarity involving elders and mental health of Indigenous people living off reserve
Intergenerational solidarity is associated with better mental health outcomes of Indigenous people living off reserve. These results could guide policies and practices that aim to enhance mental health and wellness in Indigenous populations
Symptoms of depression and anxiety, and unmet healthcare needs in adults during the Covid-19 pandemic
The presence of depression and anxiety symptoms were strongly associated with perceived unmet healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions to improve healthcare access for adults with depression and anxiety during the pandemic may be necessary
The Effects of Loneliness on Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults During Covid-19
ObjectivesThis paper examines the longitudinal effects of changes in the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms during the pandemic among older adults (65+). Methods Baseline (2011-2015) and Follow-up 1 (2015-2018) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), and the Baseline and Exit waves of the CLSA COVID-19 study (April-December, 2020) ( n = 12,469) were used. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness S…
Levels of Depression and Anxiety Among Informal Caregivers During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The findings shed light on the change in mental health among informal caregivers during the outset of the pandemic. The demonstrated associations between studied variables and mental health among informal caregivers provide empirical evidence for intervention programs aiming to support caregivers, particularly those who are female, and providing intensive care at home
Convivialité des municipalités canadiennes à l’égard des aînés
This portrait of Canadian municipalities' age-friendliness can be used to strengthen actions promoting active aging
Older adults’ experience as peer educators in health promotion programs
Introduction Peer-led health promotion programs rely on community members to promote health-enhancing changes among their peers. Such programs are growing in popularity and, as a useful and relevant strategy to promote older adults’ social participation, have shown benefit to participants’ physical and psychological health. Little is known, however, about the experience of older adults involved as peer educators in health promotion programs. Meth…
Ageism and Covid-19
The goal of this commentary is to highlight the ageism that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 20 international researchers in the field of ageing have contributed to this document. This commentary discusses how older people are misrepresented and undervalued in the current public discourse surrounding the pandemic. It points to issues in documenting the deaths of older adults, the lack of preparation for such a crisis in long-term ca…
Inventory and analysis of definitions of social participation found in the aging literature
Neighborhood Resources and Social Participation Among Older Adults
Findings were consistent with contributions highlighting the impact of the built environment on seniors' health-related behavior. Future work would benefit from the use of longitudinal designs and examinations of social participation through alternate channels
Levels of Depression and Anxiety Among Informal Caregivers During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The findings shed light on the change in mental health among informal caregivers during the outset of the pandemic. The demonstrated associations between studied variables and mental health among informal caregivers provide empirical evidence for intervention programs aiming to support caregivers, particularly those who are female, and providing intensive care at home
Functional disability and social participation restriction associated with chronic conditions in middle-aged and older adults
BACKGROUND: We examine the population impact on functional disability and social participation of physical and mental chronic conditions individually and in combination. METHODS: Cross-sectional, population-based data from community-dwelling people aged 45 years and over living in the 10 Canadian provinces in 2008-2009 were used to estimate the population attributable risk (PAR) for functional disability in basic (ADL) and instrumental (IADL) act…
Environmental Factors Associated With Social Participation of Older Adults Living in Metropolitan, Urban, and Rural Areas
Objectives. We compared the social participation of older adults living in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas, and identified associated environmental factors. Methods. From 2004 to 2006, we conducted a cross-sectional study using an age-, gender-, and area-stratified random sample of 1198 adults (aged 67–82 years). We collected data via interviewer-administered questionnaires and derived from Canadian censuses. Results. Social participation di…
What you do every day matters
How environments can promote active aging
Convivialité des municipalités canadiennes à l’égard des aînés
This portrait of Canadian municipalities' age-friendliness can be used to strengthen actions promoting active aging
Levers for Change and Unexpected Outcomes of a Participatory Research Partnership
Promoting health equity in aging requires ensuring older adults' effective access to community-based services fostering their social participation. This study aimed to (a) identify levers for change in community-based services to foster older adults' social participation and (b) explore unexpected outcomes of stakeholder engagement. Based in a large Canadian city, a critical participatory research partnership was formed in a district experiencing…
Accomplishment level and satisfaction with social participation of older adults
Inventory and analysis of definitions of social participation found in the aging literature
Neighborhood Resources and Social Participation Among Older Adults
Findings were consistent with contributions highlighting the impact of the built environment on seniors' health-related behavior. Future work would benefit from the use of longitudinal designs and examinations of social participation through alternate channels
The Patient’s Perspective of in-Home Telerehabilitation Physiotherapy Services Following Total Knee Arthroplasty
This study aimed at exploring patients' perceptions regarding telerehabilitation services received post total knee replacement. In this qualitative embedded single case study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five patients who had previously received in-home telerehabilitation post total knee arthroplasty. Participants were asked to reflect on their 8-week rehabilitation process and on their experience with the home telerehabilitati…
Importance of proximity to resources, social support, transportation and neighborhood security for mobility and social participation in older adults
Environmental Factors Associated With Social Participation of Older Adults Living in Metropolitan, Urban, and Rural Areas
Objectives. We compared the social participation of older adults living in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas, and identified associated environmental factors. Methods. From 2004 to 2006, we conducted a cross-sectional study using an age-, gender-, and area-stratified random sample of 1198 adults (aged 67–82 years). We collected data via interviewer-administered questionnaires and derived from Canadian censuses. Results. Social participation di…
What you do every day matters
Capturing how age-friendly communities foster positive health, social participation and health equity
Building on new and existing collaborations and generating evidence from real-world interventions, the results of this project will help communities to promote age-friendly policies, services and structures which foster positive health, social participation and health equity at a population level
Functional disability and social participation restriction associated with chronic conditions in middle-aged and older adults
BACKGROUND: We examine the population impact on functional disability and social participation of physical and mental chronic conditions individually and in combination. METHODS: Cross-sectional, population-based data from community-dwelling people aged 45 years and over living in the 10 Canadian provinces in 2008-2009 were used to estimate the population attributable risk (PAR) for functional disability in basic (ADL) and instrumental (IADL) act…
Promotion de l’allaitement
Social participation in older women and men
Overall, there were no practical differences between women's and men's social participation. However, unavailability of activities and transportation problems suggest that local initiatives and further research on environmental characteristics are required to foster aging Canadians' participation
L’accompagnement-citoyen en soutien à la participation sociale des aînés ayant un traumatisme craniocérébral
Highly valued by seniors, community integration has beneficial effects on their biopsychosocial health. However, not all of them have the same opportunities to engage in social participation activities, particularly those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are more likely to be limited in their abilities to participate in the life of the community. The most common initiatives to help these people consist of human assistance to overcome their l…
Ageism and Covid-19
The goal of this commentary is to highlight the ageism that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 20 international researchers in the field of ageing have contributed to this document. This commentary discusses how older people are misrepresented and undervalued in the current public discourse surrounding the pandemic. It points to issues in documenting the deaths of older adults, the lack of preparation for such a crisis in long-term ca…
Environmental Characteristics Associated with Older Adults’ Social Participation
Although social participation fosters older adults' health, little is known about which environmental characteristics are related to greater participation in social activities. The Canadian Community Health Survey ( n = 2737), a transportation survey, and multiple secondary data sources were used to identify the environmental characteristics associated with older Quebecers' social participation according to living area. Greater social participati…
Importance of Indigenous elders’ contributions to individual and community wellness
OBJECTIVE: Wellness is a challenge for Indigenous peoples, partly because Western services do not adopt a holistic approach. By devaluing traditional knowledge, Indigenous values and beliefs, these services lower Indigenous power and affect cultural identities. Indigenous elders participate in intergenerational solidarity by transmitting knowledge, values, and culture in a holistic approach. Despite widespread acceptance of the importance of Indi…
Institutional context
Clinical reasoning (CR) is the cognitive process that therapists use to plan, direct, perform and reflect on client care. Linked to intervention efficiency and quality, CR is a core competency that occurs within an institutional context (legal, regulatory, administrative and organisational elements). Because this context can shape how community therapists think about their clients' care, its involvement in their CR could have a major impact on th…
Levers for Change and Unexpected Outcomes of a Participatory Research Partnership
Promoting health equity in aging requires ensuring older adults' effective access to community-based services fostering their social participation. This study aimed to (a) identify levers for change in community-based services to foster older adults' social participation and (b) explore unexpected outcomes of stakeholder engagement. Based in a large Canadian city, a critical participatory research partnership was formed in a district experiencing…
Older adults’ experience as peer educators in health promotion programs
Introduction Peer-led health promotion programs rely on community members to promote health-enhancing changes among their peers. Such programs are growing in popularity and, as a useful and relevant strategy to promote older adults’ social participation, have shown benefit to participants’ physical and psychological health. Little is known, however, about the experience of older adults involved as peer educators in health promotion programs. Meth…
Association between intergenerational solidarity involving elders and mental health of Indigenous people living off reserve
Intergenerational solidarity is associated with better mental health outcomes of Indigenous people living off reserve. These results could guide policies and practices that aim to enhance mental health and wellness in Indigenous populations
Symptoms of depression and anxiety, and unmet healthcare needs in adults during the Covid-19 pandemic
The presence of depression and anxiety symptoms were strongly associated with perceived unmet healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions to improve healthcare access for adults with depression and anxiety during the pandemic may be necessary
The Effects of Loneliness on Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults During Covid-19
ObjectivesThis paper examines the longitudinal effects of changes in the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms during the pandemic among older adults (65+). Methods Baseline (2011-2015) and Follow-up 1 (2015-2018) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), and the Baseline and Exit waves of the CLSA COVID-19 study (April-December, 2020) ( n = 12,469) were used. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness S…
Levels of Depression and Anxiety Among Informal Caregivers During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The findings shed light on the change in mental health among informal caregivers during the outset of the pandemic. The demonstrated associations between studied variables and mental health among informal caregivers provide empirical evidence for intervention programs aiming to support caregivers, particularly those who are female, and providing intensive care at home
Convivialité des municipalités canadiennes à l’égard des aînés
This portrait of Canadian municipalities' age-friendliness can be used to strengthen actions promoting active aging
Increased prevalence of loneliness and associated risk factors during the Covid-19 pandemic
As has been noted for various other outcomes, the pandemic did not impact all subgroups of the population in the same way with respect to loneliness. Our results suggest that public health measures aimed at reducing loneliness during a pandemic should incorporate multifactor interventions fostering positive health behaviours and consider targeting those at high risk for loneliness
Key Age-Friendly Components of Municipalities that Foster Social Participation of Aging Canadians
Medicine (34 works) · Gerontology (30 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (26 works) · Psychology (25 works) · Sociology (17 works) · Psychiatry (14 works) · Public health (13 works) · Aging and Gerontology Research (12 works) · Political science (11 works) · Social engagement (11 works)