View in EDS

Older adults can re-appraise loneliness using a social connectivity app: a mixed method intervention study.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Older adults can re-appraise loneliness using a social connectivity app: a mixed method intervention study.
Authors: Harkin, Lydia (AUTHOR), Stevenson, Clifford (AUTHOR), Fino, Emanuele (AUTHOR), Talbot, Catherine (AUTHOR), Stuart, Avelie (AUTHOR), Park, Miriam Sang-Ah (AUTHOR), Lay, Jennifer (AUTHOR), Katz, Dmitri (AUTHOR), Price, Blaine (AUTHOR), Gooch, Daniel (AUTHOR)
Source: Aging & Mental Health. Mar2026, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p517-528. 12p.
Subjects: Prevention of mental depression, Mobile apps, Pearson correlation (Statistics), Reinforcement (Psychology), Research funding, Qualitative research, Data analysis, Statistical sampling, Interviewing, Loneliness, Randomized controlled trials, Descriptive statistics, Thematic analysis, Social networks, Research methodology, Statistics, Anxiety disorders, Data analysis software, Psychological tests, Self-perception, Old age
Abstract: Objectives: Older adults face an elevated risk of social isolation, loneliness, and poor psychological health. This mixed methods study evaluates a trial of an intervention app designed to protect against loneliness by raising older adults' awareness of their social relationships. Method: A 4-week online mixed methods randomised 2 (condition: app use vs waitlist) x 3 (timepoint: baseline, 2 week, and 4 week wellbeing) trial, with follow up qualitative interviews. Older adults (N = 99, Mean Age = 68) completed a survey at three timepoints (baseline, two, and four weeks) reporting loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Forty-five post-trial interviews were conducted with the app users and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: A significant interaction effect was found; participants using the app reported a significant reduction in depression scores between baseline and four-week follow-up. There was no significant effect on loneliness or anxiety scores. Interviews revealed ways app users were (1) Holding up a mirror to feelings about their social groups, (2) Re-appraising loneliness; and (3) Acting as analysts. Conclusion: The digital intervention reduced reported depression by enhancing positive appraisal of social groups. Further work is required to understand how to overcome risks of reflection-based apps for loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Aging & Mental Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 192005962
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Older adults can re-appraise loneliness using a social connectivity app: a mixed method intervention study.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Harkin%2C+Lydia%22">Harkin, Lydia</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stevenson%2C+Clifford%22">Stevenson, Clifford</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fino%2C+Emanuele%22">Fino, Emanuele</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Talbot%2C+Catherine%22">Talbot, Catherine</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stuart%2C+Avelie%22">Stuart, Avelie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Park%2C+Miriam+Sang-Ah%22">Park, Miriam Sang-Ah</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lay%2C+Jennifer%22">Lay, Jennifer</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katz%2C+Dmitri%22">Katz, Dmitri</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Price%2C+Blaine%22">Price, Blaine</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gooch%2C+Daniel%22">Gooch, Daniel</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Aging+%26+Mental+Health%22">Aging & Mental Health</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p517-528. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prevention+of+mental+depression%22">Prevention of mental depression</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mobile+apps%22">Mobile apps</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pearson+correlation+%28Statistics%29%22">Pearson correlation (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reinforcement+%28Psychology%29%22">Reinforcement (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis%22">Data analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+sampling%22">Statistical sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loneliness%22">Loneliness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Randomized+controlled+trials%22">Randomized controlled trials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+networks%22">Social networks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistics%22">Statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety+disorders%22">Anxiety disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+tests%22">Psychological tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-perception%22">Self-perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Old+age%22">Old age</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objectives: Older adults face an elevated risk of social isolation, loneliness, and poor psychological health. This mixed methods study evaluates a trial of an intervention app designed to protect against loneliness by raising older adults' awareness of their social relationships. Method: A 4-week online mixed methods randomised 2 (condition: app use vs waitlist) x 3 (timepoint: baseline, 2 week, and 4 week wellbeing) trial, with follow up qualitative interviews. Older adults (N = 99, Mean Age = 68) completed a survey at three timepoints (baseline, two, and four weeks) reporting loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Forty-five post-trial interviews were conducted with the app users and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: A significant interaction effect was found; participants using the app reported a significant reduction in depression scores between baseline and four-week follow-up. There was no significant effect on loneliness or anxiety scores. Interviews revealed ways app users were (1) Holding up a mirror to feelings about their social groups, (2) Re-appraising loneliness; and (3) Acting as analysts. Conclusion: The digital intervention reduced reported depression by enhancing positive appraisal of social groups. Further work is required to understand how to overcome risks of reflection-based apps for loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Aging & Mental Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192005962
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/13607863.2025.2572017
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 517
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Prevention of mental depression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mobile apps
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pearson correlation (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reinforcement (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loneliness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Randomized controlled trials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social networks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-perception
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Old age
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Older adults can re-appraise loneliness using a social connectivity app: a mixed method intervention study.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Harkin, Lydia
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Stevenson, Clifford
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Fino, Emanuele
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Talbot, Catherine
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Stuart, Avelie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Park, Miriam Sang-Ah
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lay, Jennifer
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Katz, Dmitri
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Price, Blaine
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gooch, Daniel
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 13607863
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 30
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Aging & Mental Health
              Type: main
ResultId 1