The HEAL-HOA Dual Randomized Controlled Trial: 12-month Effects on Loneliness in Older Adults

TL;DR

This study tested telephone-based interventions to reduce loneliness in older adults and found that behavioral activation and mindfulness had lasting effects over 12 months.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the long-term effectiveness of scalable telephone-based interventions for reducing loneliness in older adults during and beyond the pandemic.

Findings

Tele-BA and Tele-MF interventions reduced loneliness at 12-month follow-up compared to Tele-BF.

Social isolation at 6 months mediated the long-term effects of Tele-BA and Tele-MF on loneliness.

Interventions also improved sleep quality, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being.

Abstract

Loneliness is a growing public health concern, yet the long-term effectiveness of psychosocial interventions remains uncertain. As part of the Helping Alleviate Loneliness in Hong Kong Older Adults, a dual randomized controlled trial conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study focused on the long-term outcomes of older adults (Mage=76.6, SDage=7.8) who lived alone, felt lonely, faced financial difficulties, and were digitally excluded. The interventions consisted of behavioral activation (Tele-BA), mindfulness (Tele-MF), and befriending (Tele-BF: attention control). Each intervention comprised eight 30-minute telephone-delivered sessions over one month, led by trained laypersons. The lay interventionists were older adult peers who also experienced loneliness. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-intervention. Compared to Tele-BF, Tele-BA and Tele-MF showed sustained reduction of loneliness at12-month follow-ups. Secondary outcome were also found to improved significantly for sleep quality, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Social isolation at 6 months mediated the effects of Tele-BA and Tele-MF at the 12-month follow-up, with a larger increase in social network leading to a more substantial reduction in loneliness. This RCT demonstrated the feasibility of scalable telephone-based interventions beyond the pandemic, with Tele-BA emerging as a promising intervention for alleviating loneliness and improving overall well-being in older adults. Future psychosocial interventions for late-life loneliness should specifically target social isolation, as it mediates the long-term effects of Tele-BA and Tele-MF on loneliness.