Reducing loneliness and depressive symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post evaluation of a psychosocial online intervention
Loneliness is related to worse mental health, particularly in people with poor social support. The COVID-19 pandemic altered our lives and ways of social interaction, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults. We designed a group-based psychosocial online intervention for older ad...
Gespeichert in:
| Veröffentlicht in: | PloS one 2024-12, Vol.19 (12), p.e0311883 |
|---|---|
| Hauptverfasser: | , , , , , |
| Format: | Artikel |
| Sprache: | eng |
| Schlagworte: | |
| Online-Zugang: | Volltext |
| Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
| container_end_page | |
|---|---|
| container_issue | 12 |
| container_start_page | e0311883 |
| container_title | PloS one |
| container_volume | 19 |
| creator | Gabarrell-Pascuet, Aina Coll-Planas, Laura Alias, Sergi Blancafort Pascual, Regina Martínez Haro, Josep Maria Domènech-Abella, Joan |
| description | Loneliness is related to worse mental health, particularly in people with poor social support. The COVID-19 pandemic altered our lives and ways of social interaction, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults.
We designed a group-based psychosocial online intervention for older adults (≥ 65 years) facilitated by gerontologists addressing loneliness consisting of: (i) sharing experiences and promoting peer support to overcome feelings of loneliness and (ii) increasing the chances of establishing successful social relationships. This was a feasibility non-controlled prospective pilot study carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic with a pre-post evaluation. Interviews before and after the intervention assessed loneliness (emotional and social), social support, depressive and anxiety symptoms, quality of life, and perceived health. Groups of 6-8 participants and 2 facilitators met once a week for 8 weeks through videoconferencing. The intervention effectiveness was assessed with multilevel models for repeated measures.
The study sample (N = 27) was mainly composed of females (74%) and the mean age was 74.26 years. 21 participants completed the intervention (22% drop-out rate). Statistically significant (p |
| doi_str_mv | 10.1371/journal.pone.0311883 |
| format | Article |
| fullrecord | <record><control><sourceid>gale_plos_</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_plos_journals_3144310761</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><galeid>A819786192</galeid><doaj_id>oai_doaj_org_article_4378340f54f54f30b46055bf038ffbd8</doaj_id><sourcerecordid>A819786192</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-d3863-b5ed2e99f1b6378fabbe2e182d170aa2e37064802bffd4e378cc97eea720a1c43</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNqNkt-L1DAQx4so3nn6H4gGBNGHrknTpqlvy54_Fg4WTr3XkjaT3SxpU5N0cf-Q-39N91a5lXuQBDIZPvOdzEyS5CXBM0JL8mFrR9cLMxtsDzNMCeGcPkrOSUWzlGWYPr5nnyXPvN9iXFDO2NPkjFasJLQozpPba5Bjq_s1MlHH6B68R6KXSMLgoq13gPy-G4LtPNI9skaCQ0KOJngkRzdFhg2gxepmeZmSCg0xGDrdfkRzFBXSwfqAYCfMKIK2UUAhgQa_bzfW21YLg2w_pY3iAdwO-ol6njxRwnh4cTwvkh-fP31ffE2vVl-Wi_lVKmMhNG0KkBlUlSINoyVXomkgA8IzSUosRAa0xCznOGuUknm88batSgBRZliQNqcXyes73cFYXx876mtK8pwSXDISieUdIa3Y1oPTnXD72gpdHxzWrWvhgm4N1HnUpzlWRT5tipuc4aJoFKZcqUbyqPXumM3ZnyP4UHfat2CM6MGOh7SsxBUryoi--Qd9-HFHai1ift0rG5xoJ9F6zklVckaqLFKzB6i4DnOKU1c6-k8C3p8ERCbAr7AWo_f18tv1_7Orm1P27T12A8KEjbdmnCbuT8FXx-rHpgP5t-1_vi39DaWb7Xw</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Open Website</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>3144310761</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Reducing loneliness and depressive symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post evaluation of a psychosocial online intervention</title><source>MEDLINE</source><source>DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals</source><source>Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek - Frei zugängliche E-Journals</source><source>Public Library of Science (PLoS)</source><source>PubMed Central</source><source>Free Full-Text Journals in Chemistry</source><creator>Gabarrell-Pascuet, Aina ; Coll-Planas, Laura ; Alias, Sergi Blancafort ; Pascual, Regina Martínez ; Haro, Josep Maria ; Domènech-Abella, Joan</creator><creatorcontrib>Gabarrell-Pascuet, Aina ; Coll-Planas, Laura ; Alias, Sergi Blancafort ; Pascual, Regina Martínez ; Haro, Josep Maria ; Domènech-Abella, Joan</creatorcontrib><description>Loneliness is related to worse mental health, particularly in people with poor social support. The COVID-19 pandemic altered our lives and ways of social interaction, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults.
We designed a group-based psychosocial online intervention for older adults (≥ 65 years) facilitated by gerontologists addressing loneliness consisting of: (i) sharing experiences and promoting peer support to overcome feelings of loneliness and (ii) increasing the chances of establishing successful social relationships. This was a feasibility non-controlled prospective pilot study carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic with a pre-post evaluation. Interviews before and after the intervention assessed loneliness (emotional and social), social support, depressive and anxiety symptoms, quality of life, and perceived health. Groups of 6-8 participants and 2 facilitators met once a week for 8 weeks through videoconferencing. The intervention effectiveness was assessed with multilevel models for repeated measures.
The study sample (N = 27) was mainly composed of females (74%) and the mean age was 74.26 years. 21 participants completed the intervention (22% drop-out rate). Statistically significant (p<0.01) decreases in emotional loneliness and depressive symptoms were observed following the intervention. Qualitatively, participants positively evaluated the intervention and found in the group a space for personal growth where they could meet new people and express themselves with confidence and security.
Interventions overcoming social distancing restrictions through online tools and targeting vulnerable population sectors (e.g., older adults) can become essential to lessen the collateral consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on social behaviour and mental health.</description><identifier>ISSN: 1932-6203</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1932-6203</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311883</identifier><identifier>PMID: 39671355</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>United States: Public Library of Science</publisher><subject>Adults ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anxiety - psychology ; COVID-19 ; COVID-19 - epidemiology ; COVID-19 - prevention & control ; COVID-19 - psychology ; Demographic aspects ; Depression - epidemiology ; Depression - psychology ; Depression in old age ; Disease control ; Emotions ; Evaluation ; Feasibility studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intervention ; Loneliness ; Loneliness - psychology ; Male ; Management ; Mental depression ; Mental Health ; Older people ; Pandemics ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies ; Psychological aspects ; Psychosocial Intervention - methods ; Quality of Life ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Social aspects ; Social behavior ; Social interactions ; Social Support ; Statistical analysis ; Videoconferencing</subject><ispartof>PloS one, 2024-12, Vol.19 (12), p.e0311883</ispartof><rights>Copyright: © 2024 Gabarrell-Pascuet et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.</rights><rights>COPYRIGHT 2024 Public Library of Science</rights><rights>2024 Gabarrell-Pascuet et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.</rights><rights>2024 Gabarrell-Pascuet et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><oa>free_for_read</oa><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><orcidid>0000-0002-2236-1435</orcidid></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><linktopdf>$$Uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0311883&type=printable$$EPDF$$P50$$Gplos$$Hfree_for_read</linktopdf><linktohtml>$$Uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0311883$$EHTML$$P50$$Gplos$$Hfree_for_read</linktohtml><link.rule.ids>314,780,784,864,2102,23866,27924,27925,79600,79601</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39671355$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Gabarrell-Pascuet, Aina</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Coll-Planas, Laura</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Alias, Sergi Blancafort</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Pascual, Regina Martínez</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Haro, Josep Maria</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Domènech-Abella, Joan</creatorcontrib><title>Reducing loneliness and depressive symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post evaluation of a psychosocial online intervention</title><title>PloS one</title><addtitle>PLoS One</addtitle><description>Loneliness is related to worse mental health, particularly in people with poor social support. The COVID-19 pandemic altered our lives and ways of social interaction, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults.
We designed a group-based psychosocial online intervention for older adults (≥ 65 years) facilitated by gerontologists addressing loneliness consisting of: (i) sharing experiences and promoting peer support to overcome feelings of loneliness and (ii) increasing the chances of establishing successful social relationships. This was a feasibility non-controlled prospective pilot study carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic with a pre-post evaluation. Interviews before and after the intervention assessed loneliness (emotional and social), social support, depressive and anxiety symptoms, quality of life, and perceived health. Groups of 6-8 participants and 2 facilitators met once a week for 8 weeks through videoconferencing. The intervention effectiveness was assessed with multilevel models for repeated measures.
The study sample (N = 27) was mainly composed of females (74%) and the mean age was 74.26 years. 21 participants completed the intervention (22% drop-out rate). Statistically significant (p<0.01) decreases in emotional loneliness and depressive symptoms were observed following the intervention. Qualitatively, participants positively evaluated the intervention and found in the group a space for personal growth where they could meet new people and express themselves with confidence and security.
Interventions overcoming social distancing restrictions through online tools and targeting vulnerable population sectors (e.g., older adults) can become essential to lessen the collateral consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on social behaviour and mental health.</description><subject>Adults</subject><subject>Aged</subject><subject>Aged, 80 and over</subject><subject>Anxiety - psychology</subject><subject>COVID-19</subject><subject>COVID-19 - epidemiology</subject><subject>COVID-19 - prevention & control</subject><subject>COVID-19 - psychology</subject><subject>Demographic aspects</subject><subject>Depression - epidemiology</subject><subject>Depression - psychology</subject><subject>Depression in old age</subject><subject>Disease control</subject><subject>Emotions</subject><subject>Evaluation</subject><subject>Feasibility studies</subject><subject>Female</subject><subject>Humans</subject><subject>Intervention</subject><subject>Loneliness</subject><subject>Loneliness - psychology</subject><subject>Male</subject><subject>Management</subject><subject>Mental depression</subject><subject>Mental Health</subject><subject>Older people</subject><subject>Pandemics</subject><subject>Pilot Projects</subject><subject>Prospective Studies</subject><subject>Psychological aspects</subject><subject>Psychosocial Intervention - methods</subject><subject>Quality of Life</subject><subject>SARS-CoV-2</subject><subject>Social aspects</subject><subject>Social behavior</subject><subject>Social interactions</subject><subject>Social Support</subject><subject>Statistical analysis</subject><subject>Videoconferencing</subject><issn>1932-6203</issn><issn>1932-6203</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2024</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><sourceid>EIF</sourceid><sourceid>ABUWG</sourceid><sourceid>AFKRA</sourceid><sourceid>AZQEC</sourceid><sourceid>BENPR</sourceid><sourceid>CCPQU</sourceid><sourceid>DWQXO</sourceid><sourceid>GNUQQ</sourceid><sourceid>DOA</sourceid><recordid>eNqNkt-L1DAQx4so3nn6H4gGBNGHrknTpqlvy54_Fg4WTr3XkjaT3SxpU5N0cf-Q-39N91a5lXuQBDIZPvOdzEyS5CXBM0JL8mFrR9cLMxtsDzNMCeGcPkrOSUWzlGWYPr5nnyXPvN9iXFDO2NPkjFasJLQozpPba5Bjq_s1MlHH6B68R6KXSMLgoq13gPy-G4LtPNI9skaCQ0KOJngkRzdFhg2gxepmeZmSCg0xGDrdfkRzFBXSwfqAYCfMKIK2UUAhgQa_bzfW21YLg2w_pY3iAdwO-ol6njxRwnh4cTwvkh-fP31ffE2vVl-Wi_lVKmMhNG0KkBlUlSINoyVXomkgA8IzSUosRAa0xCznOGuUknm88batSgBRZliQNqcXyes73cFYXx876mtK8pwSXDISieUdIa3Y1oPTnXD72gpdHxzWrWvhgm4N1HnUpzlWRT5tipuc4aJoFKZcqUbyqPXumM3ZnyP4UHfat2CM6MGOh7SsxBUryoi--Qd9-HFHai1ift0rG5xoJ9F6zklVckaqLFKzB6i4DnOKU1c6-k8C3p8ERCbAr7AWo_f18tv1_7Orm1P27T12A8KEjbdmnCbuT8FXx-rHpgP5t-1_vi39DaWb7Xw</recordid><startdate>20241213</startdate><enddate>20241213</enddate><creator>Gabarrell-Pascuet, Aina</creator><creator>Coll-Planas, Laura</creator><creator>Alias, Sergi Blancafort</creator><creator>Pascual, Regina Martínez</creator><creator>Haro, Josep Maria</creator><creator>Domènech-Abella, Joan</creator><general>Public Library of Science</general><general>Public Library of Science (PLoS)</general><scope>CGR</scope><scope>CUY</scope><scope>CVF</scope><scope>ECM</scope><scope>EIF</scope><scope>NPM</scope><scope>IOV</scope><scope>ISR</scope><scope>3V.</scope><scope>7QG</scope><scope>7QL</scope><scope>7QO</scope><scope>7RV</scope><scope>7SN</scope><scope>7SS</scope><scope>7T5</scope><scope>7TG</scope><scope>7TM</scope><scope>7U9</scope><scope>7X2</scope><scope>7X7</scope><scope>7XB</scope><scope>88E</scope><scope>8AO</scope><scope>8C1</scope><scope>8FD</scope><scope>8FE</scope><scope>8FG</scope><scope>8FH</scope><scope>8FI</scope><scope>8FJ</scope><scope>8FK</scope><scope>ABJCF</scope><scope>ABUWG</scope><scope>AFKRA</scope><scope>ARAPS</scope><scope>ATCPS</scope><scope>AZQEC</scope><scope>BBNVY</scope><scope>BENPR</scope><scope>BGLVJ</scope><scope>BHPHI</scope><scope>C1K</scope><scope>CCPQU</scope><scope>COVID</scope><scope>D1I</scope><scope>DWQXO</scope><scope>FR3</scope><scope>FYUFA</scope><scope>GHDGH</scope><scope>GNUQQ</scope><scope>H94</scope><scope>HCIFZ</scope><scope>K9.</scope><scope>KB.</scope><scope>KB0</scope><scope>KL.</scope><scope>L6V</scope><scope>LK8</scope><scope>M0K</scope><scope>M0S</scope><scope>M1P</scope><scope>M7N</scope><scope>M7P</scope><scope>M7S</scope><scope>NAPCQ</scope><scope>P5Z</scope><scope>P62</scope><scope>P64</scope><scope>PATMY</scope><scope>PDBOC</scope><scope>PIMPY</scope><scope>PQEST</scope><scope>PQQKQ</scope><scope>PQUKI</scope><scope>PRINS</scope><scope>PTHSS</scope><scope>PYCSY</scope><scope>RC3</scope><scope>7X8</scope><scope>DOA</scope><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2236-1435</orcidid></search><sort><creationdate>20241213</creationdate><title>Reducing loneliness and depressive symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post evaluation of a psychosocial online intervention</title><author>Gabarrell-Pascuet, Aina ; Coll-Planas, Laura ; Alias, Sergi Blancafort ; Pascual, Regina Martínez ; Haro, Josep Maria ; Domènech-Abella, Joan</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-d3863-b5ed2e99f1b6378fabbe2e182d170aa2e37064802bffd4e378cc97eea720a1c43</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2024</creationdate><topic>Adults</topic><topic>Aged</topic><topic>Aged, 80 and over</topic><topic>Anxiety - psychology</topic><topic>COVID-19</topic><topic>COVID-19 - epidemiology</topic><topic>COVID-19 - prevention & control</topic><topic>COVID-19 - psychology</topic><topic>Demographic aspects</topic><topic>Depression - epidemiology</topic><topic>Depression - psychology</topic><topic>Depression in old age</topic><topic>Disease control</topic><topic>Emotions</topic><topic>Evaluation</topic><topic>Feasibility studies</topic><topic>Female</topic><topic>Humans</topic><topic>Intervention</topic><topic>Loneliness</topic><topic>Loneliness - psychology</topic><topic>Male</topic><topic>Management</topic><topic>Mental depression</topic><topic>Mental Health</topic><topic>Older people</topic><topic>Pandemics</topic><topic>Pilot Projects</topic><topic>Prospective Studies</topic><topic>Psychological aspects</topic><topic>Psychosocial Intervention - methods</topic><topic>Quality of Life</topic><topic>SARS-CoV-2</topic><topic>Social aspects</topic><topic>Social behavior</topic><topic>Social interactions</topic><topic>Social Support</topic><topic>Statistical analysis</topic><topic>Videoconferencing</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Gabarrell-Pascuet, Aina</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Coll-Planas, Laura</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Alias, Sergi Blancafort</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Pascual, Regina Martínez</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Haro, Josep Maria</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Domènech-Abella, Joan</creatorcontrib><collection>Medline</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE (Ovid)</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>PubMed</collection><collection>Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints</collection><collection>Gale In Context: Science</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (Corporate)</collection><collection>Animal Behavior Abstracts</collection><collection>Bacteriology Abstracts (Microbiology B)</collection><collection>Biotechnology Research Abstracts</collection><collection>Nursing & Allied Health Database</collection><collection>Ecology Abstracts</collection><collection>Entomology Abstracts (Full archive)</collection><collection>Immunology Abstracts</collection><collection>Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts</collection><collection>Nucleic Acids Abstracts</collection><collection>Virology and AIDS Abstracts</collection><collection>Agricultural Science Collection</collection><collection>Health & Medical Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (purchase pre-March 2016)</collection><collection>Medical Database (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>ProQuest Pharma Collection</collection><collection>Public Health Database</collection><collection>Technology Research Database</collection><collection>ProQuest SciTech Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Technology Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Natural Science Collection</collection><collection>Hospital Premium Collection</collection><collection>Hospital Premium Collection (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (Alumni) (purchase pre-March 2016)</collection><collection>Materials Science & Engineering Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central UK/Ireland</collection><collection>Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Collection</collection><collection>Agricultural & Environmental Science Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central Essentials</collection><collection>Biological Science Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central</collection><collection>Technology Collection</collection><collection>Natural Science Collection</collection><collection>Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management</collection><collection>ProQuest One Community College</collection><collection>Coronavirus Research Database</collection><collection>ProQuest Materials Science Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central Korea</collection><collection>Engineering Research Database</collection><collection>Health Research Premium Collection</collection><collection>Health Research Premium Collection (Alumni)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central Student</collection><collection>AIDS and Cancer Research Abstracts</collection><collection>SciTech Premium Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Health & Medical Complete (Alumni)</collection><collection>Materials Science Database</collection><collection>Nursing & Allied Health Database (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts - Academic</collection><collection>ProQuest Engineering Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Biological Science Collection</collection><collection>Agricultural Science Database</collection><collection>Health & Medical Collection (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>Medical Database</collection><collection>Algology Mycology and Protozoology Abstracts (Microbiology C)</collection><collection>Biological Science Database</collection><collection>Engineering Database</collection><collection>Nursing & Allied Health Premium</collection><collection>Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Database</collection><collection>ProQuest Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Collection</collection><collection>Biotechnology and BioEngineering Abstracts</collection><collection>Environmental Science Database</collection><collection>Materials Science Collection</collection><collection>Publicly Available Content Database</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic Eastern Edition (DO NOT USE)</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic UKI Edition</collection><collection>ProQuest Central China</collection><collection>Engineering Collection</collection><collection>Environmental Science Collection</collection><collection>Genetics Abstracts</collection><collection>MEDLINE - Academic</collection><collection>DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals</collection><jtitle>PloS one</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Gabarrell-Pascuet, Aina</au><au>Coll-Planas, Laura</au><au>Alias, Sergi Blancafort</au><au>Pascual, Regina Martínez</au><au>Haro, Josep Maria</au><au>Domènech-Abella, Joan</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Reducing loneliness and depressive symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post evaluation of a psychosocial online intervention</atitle><jtitle>PloS one</jtitle><addtitle>PLoS One</addtitle><date>2024-12-13</date><risdate>2024</risdate><volume>19</volume><issue>12</issue><spage>e0311883</spage><pages>e0311883-</pages><issn>1932-6203</issn><eissn>1932-6203</eissn><abstract>Loneliness is related to worse mental health, particularly in people with poor social support. The COVID-19 pandemic altered our lives and ways of social interaction, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults.
We designed a group-based psychosocial online intervention for older adults (≥ 65 years) facilitated by gerontologists addressing loneliness consisting of: (i) sharing experiences and promoting peer support to overcome feelings of loneliness and (ii) increasing the chances of establishing successful social relationships. This was a feasibility non-controlled prospective pilot study carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic with a pre-post evaluation. Interviews before and after the intervention assessed loneliness (emotional and social), social support, depressive and anxiety symptoms, quality of life, and perceived health. Groups of 6-8 participants and 2 facilitators met once a week for 8 weeks through videoconferencing. The intervention effectiveness was assessed with multilevel models for repeated measures.
The study sample (N = 27) was mainly composed of females (74%) and the mean age was 74.26 years. 21 participants completed the intervention (22% drop-out rate). Statistically significant (p<0.01) decreases in emotional loneliness and depressive symptoms were observed following the intervention. Qualitatively, participants positively evaluated the intervention and found in the group a space for personal growth where they could meet new people and express themselves with confidence and security.
Interventions overcoming social distancing restrictions through online tools and targeting vulnerable population sectors (e.g., older adults) can become essential to lessen the collateral consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on social behaviour and mental health.</abstract><cop>United States</cop><pub>Public Library of Science</pub><pmid>39671355</pmid><doi>10.1371/journal.pone.0311883</doi><tpages>e0311883</tpages><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2236-1435</orcidid><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record> |
| fulltext | fulltext |
| identifier | ISSN: 1932-6203 |
| ispartof | PloS one, 2024-12, Vol.19 (12), p.e0311883 |
| issn | 1932-6203 1932-6203 |
| language | eng |
| recordid | cdi_plos_journals_3144310761 |
| source | MEDLINE; DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals; Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek - Frei zugängliche E-Journals; Public Library of Science (PLoS); PubMed Central; Free Full-Text Journals in Chemistry |
| subjects | Adults Aged Aged, 80 and over Anxiety - psychology COVID-19 COVID-19 - epidemiology COVID-19 - prevention & control COVID-19 - psychology Demographic aspects Depression - epidemiology Depression - psychology Depression in old age Disease control Emotions Evaluation Feasibility studies Female Humans Intervention Loneliness Loneliness - psychology Male Management Mental depression Mental Health Older people Pandemics Pilot Projects Prospective Studies Psychological aspects Psychosocial Intervention - methods Quality of Life SARS-CoV-2 Social aspects Social behavior Social interactions Social Support Statistical analysis Videoconferencing |
| title | Reducing loneliness and depressive symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post evaluation of a psychosocial online intervention |
| url | https://sfx.bib-bvb.de/sfx_tum?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-01-05T06%3A38%3A13IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-gale_plos_&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Reducing%20loneliness%20and%20depressive%20symptoms%20in%20older%20adults%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20pandemic:%20A%20pre-post%20evaluation%20of%20a%20psychosocial%20online%20intervention&rft.jtitle=PloS%20one&rft.au=Gabarrell-Pascuet,%20Aina&rft.date=2024-12-13&rft.volume=19&rft.issue=12&rft.spage=e0311883&rft.pages=e0311883-&rft.issn=1932-6203&rft.eissn=1932-6203&rft_id=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0311883&rft_dat=%3Cgale_plos_%3EA819786192%3C/gale_plos_%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&disable_directlink=true&sfx.directlink=off&sfx.report_link=0&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=3144310761&rft_id=info:pmid/39671355&rft_galeid=A819786192&rft_doaj_id=oai_doaj_org_article_4378340f54f54f30b46055bf038ffbd8&rfr_iscdi=true |