Interventions to Reduce Loneliness in Community-Living Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Loneliness rates, especially among seniors, have risen, prompting policy and provider attention.
• Previous systematic reviews have not definitively concluded on intervention effectiveness for loneliness.
• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the issue, increasing focus on social isolation solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze evidence on interventions aimed at reducing loneliness in community-living adults.
• To assess the effectiveness of various social interventions based on rigorous study designs.
• To provide evidence to inform the development of programs addressing senior loneliness.

Main Methods:

• Searched multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, PsycINFO) and gray literature for studies from 2011-2021.
• Included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies of interventions targeting loneliness.
• Excluded studies from low/middle-income countries and those focused on single-disease populations.

Main Results:

• Moderate certainty evidence indicates group-based treatments reduce loneliness (SMD RCTs = -0.27).
• Moderate certainty evidence shows internet training reduces loneliness (SMD RCTs = -0.22).
• Low certainty evidence suggests group exercises may offer very small reductions in loneliness.

Conclusions:

• Group-based treatments and internet training are associated with modest loneliness reduction in older adults.
• Group exercises may offer a small benefit for reducing loneliness.
• Findings support the design of evidence-based interventions and supplemental benefits to combat loneliness.