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Peer support telephone dyads for elderly women: was this the wrong intervention?
K Heller1, M G Thompson, P E Trueba
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405.
American Journal of Community Psychology
|February 1, 1991
Summary
A study on elderly women found that while participation in assessments improved mental health, additional peer telephone support did not yield significant benefits. The intervention may not have addressed the core issue of low family support.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Low perceived social support is a significant concern for community-living elderly women.
- Mental health challenges such as depression and loneliness are prevalent in this demographic.
- Preventive interventions are crucial for improving well-being in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a preventive intervention using peer telephone dyads for low-income, elderly women with low social support.
- To assess the impact of telephone-based social support on perceived social support, morale, depression, and loneliness.
- To compare the effectiveness of staff-led telephone contact versus peer-led telephone dyads.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving elderly women with low perceived social support.
- Intervention groups received 10 weeks of staff telephone contact, followed by either continued staff contact or peer telephone dyads.
- A control group received assessment-only, with all groups assessed before and after the intervention period.
Main Results:
- All groups showed some improvement in mental health scores over time.
- No significant differences were found between the intervention groups (staff contact vs. peer dyads).
- No significant differences were observed between intervention groups and the assessment-only control group.
Conclusions:
- Participation in the study and assessment interviews likely enhanced morale.
- Additional telephone contact, whether staff-led or peer-led, did not significantly improve mental health outcomes beyond the assessment effect.
- Low perceived family support, rather than friend support, may be a more critical factor for mental health in this population, suggesting a need to re-evaluate intervention targets.