Exploring the Impact of a Digital Reading Program on Apathy Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Rural Canada:...

Background/Objectives: Apathy, characterized by diminished motivation and reduced engagement in goal-directed behavior, is a prevalent concern among older adults, particularly in rural communities where opportunities for meaningful engagement may be limited. This study explores the preliminary impact of an in-person eBook club program on apathy among community-dwelling older adults in Northern British Columbia. Methods: This eight-week pilot single-group, pre-post mixed-methods study combined the use of eReaders to access weekly reading materials with facilitated in-person group discussions designed to foster emotional and social connection. Apathy was assessed using the 3-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-3A) before and after the program. Results: A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a statistically significant reduction in apathy scores (Z = -4.01, p < 0.001), with a large effect size (r = 0.76). While not powered for hypothesis testing, these findings suggest the program may have a meaningful effect. Qualitative analysis of participants who reported higher baseline apathy scores identified three key mechanisms of change: positivity effect, selective pruning of social networks, and adaptive coping, consistent with socioemotional selectivity theory. Conclusions: These preliminary results support the feasibility and potential value of theory-informed, low-cost group reading programs for addressing apathy in older adults and can inform the design of a larger, controlled study.