Voice-Activated Virtual Home Assistant Use and Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Adults: Mini Review

A lack of social connectedness is common among older adults due to living alone, loss of loved ones, reduced mobility, and, more recently, social distancing created by the global Covid-19 pandemic. Older adults are vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness, which pose significant health risks comparable to those of smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure. A lack of social connectedness is also correlated with higher mortality rates even when controlling for other factors such as age and comorbid conditions. The purpose of this mini review was to explore the emerging concepts of older adults' use of commercially available artificial intelligent virtual home assistants (VHAs; e.g., Amazon Echo, Google Nest), and its relationship to social isolation and loneliness. A secondary purpose was to identify potential areas for further research. Results suggest that VHAs are perceived by many older adult users as “companions” and improve social connectedness and reduce loneliness. Available studies are exploratory and descriptive and have limited generalizability due to small sample sizes, however, similar results were reported across several studies conducted in differing countries. Privacy concerns and other ethical issues and costs associated with VHA use were identified as potential risks to older adults' VHA adoption and use. Older adults who were using VHAs expressed the need and desire for more structured training on device use. Future research with stronger methods, including prospective, longitudinal, and randomized study designs are needed. Public education, industry standards, and regulatory oversight is required to mitigate potential risks associated with VHA use.

Download Full-text

COVID-19, Social Isolation, and Loneliness in Older Adults: Leveraging Exercise to Age in Place Study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3442 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 940-940

Author(s):

Meghan Reddy ◽

Celina Shirazipour ◽

Allison Mays

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Demographic Data ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Small Sample ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Age In Place ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Social isolation and loneliness are associated with morbidity and mortality and highly prevalent in older adults. Older adults, a high-risk group for developing serious complications from COVID-19, are asked to shelter-in-place limiting physical interactions. We aimed to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on social isolation and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults previously enrolled in in-person exercise classes in the Leveraging Exercise to Age in Place (LEAP) study before March 19th, 2020 when California started shelter-in-place. We conducted a pre-post analysis of cognitively intact participants (n=59) >50 years, who had social connectedness, loneliness, and demographic data collected pre- and post-COVID shelter-in-place. Participants’ social connectedness was measured via the 11-question Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) and loneliness via the 3-question UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA 3). Participants had an average (±SD) baseline DSSI of 27.2 (± 3.5) and UCLA 3 of 4.8 (± 1.7) and were an average of 76.6 ± 9.2 years, 81% female, 63% white, 29% widowed, 42% living alone, 27% acting as caregivers, and 44% were diagnosed with 3 or more chronic health conditions. We completed post-assessments on average 61 ± 29 days after the start of shelter-in-place. Results of the paired t-tests indicated no statistically significant difference in social connectedness and loneliness pre- and post-shelter-in-place. Reasons for lack of observed change include: limitations of a small sample size, possible protective factors from enrollment in the LEAP program, or insufficient time at post-assessment to develop changes in loneliness and social isolation. Repeated assessments are needed throughout the pandemic.

Download Full-text

Reducing Isolation and Loneliness Through Membership in a Fitness Program for Older Adults: Implications for Health

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464818807820 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 301-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Samantha Brady ◽

Lisa A. D’Ambrosio ◽

Adam Felts ◽

Elizabeth Y. Rula ◽

Kenneth P. Kell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Future Research ◽

Direct Effects ◽

Fitness Program ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Independent Effects ◽

Survey Responses

Objectives: To explore the effects of membership in a fitness program for older adults on social isolation, loneliness, and health. Method: Using survey responses from SilverSneakers members and matched nonmembers, regression path analysis was used to examine the influence of SilverSneakers membership on physical activity, social isolation, loneliness, and health, and the interrelationships among these concepts. Results: SilverSneakers membership directly increased physical activity and self-rated health, directly decreased social isolation, and indirectly decreased loneliness. Decreased social isolation and loneliness were associated with better self-rated health: social isolation and loneliness had independent direct effects on health, while social isolation also had an indirect effect on health mediated through loneliness. Discussion: Members of SilverSneakers experienced better health through increased physical activity, reduced social isolation, and reduced loneliness. Future research should explore independent effects of social isolation and loneliness on health and the mechanisms by which membership reduces social isolation and loneliness.

Download Full-text

Loneliness and Health in Older Adults: A Mini-Review and Synthesis

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000441651 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 443-449 ◽

Cited By ~ 158

Author(s):

Anthony D. Ong ◽

Bert N. Uchino ◽

Elaine Wethington

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Later Life ◽

Future Research ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Key Concepts ◽

The Status ◽

Perceived Social Isolation

Increasing evidence suggests that perceived social isolation or loneliness is a major risk factor for physical and mental illness in later life. This review assesses the status of research on loneliness and health in older adults. Key concepts and definitions of loneliness are identified, and the prevalence, correlates, and health effects of loneliness in older individuals are reviewed. Theoretical mechanisms that underlie the association between loneliness and health are also described, and illustrative studies examining these mechanisms are summarized. Intervention approaches to reduce loneliness in old age are highlighted, and priority recommendations for future research are presented.

Download Full-text

The fading affect bias (FAB) is strongest for Jews and Buddhists and weakest for participants without religious affiliations: An exploratory analysis

World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews ◽

10.30574/wjarr.2021.9.3.0109 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 09 (03) ◽

pp. 350-362

Author(s):

Jeffrey A. Gibbons ◽

Sherman A. Lee ◽

Luke P. Fernandez ◽

Emma D. Friedmann ◽

Kaylee D. Harris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Religious Belief ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Religious Affiliation ◽

Belief Systems ◽

Small Sample ◽

Exploratory Analysis ◽

Future Research ◽

Coping Mechanism ◽

The Face

The fading affect bias (FAB) is a robust phenomenon where unpleasant affect fades faster than pleasant affect. The FAB is believed to be coping mechanism designed to make life appear pleasant in the face of hardships and adversities. The FAB persists across several cultures and many event types (e.g., alcohol, religious, and death), even though low FAB has been demonstrated for social media events, videogame events, and events labeled as religious, but not spiritual. Although religion is also believed to make life more satisfying by providing existential meaning and social connectedness for their followers, research to date, has not examined religious differences in the FAB. Therefore, we examined the FAB using 2 measures of fading affect across participants’ self-reported religious affiliations and we found robust FAB effects for all categories except for an extremely small sample of Islamic followers. The FAB effects were strongest for Jewish and Buddhist affiliations and they were weakest for participants who did not report a well-known religious affiliation. The findings extend the literature on the FAB to religious belief systems. Future research should replicate the current study, examine the FAB for larger samples of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Jews, and test explanations for differential FAB effects across religious affiliations.

Download Full-text

Frailty as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Social Isolation and Health Outcomes in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

10.20944/preprints202102.0091.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fereshteh Mehrabi ◽

François Béland

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Participation ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Extended Family ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

This research investigated the effects of social isolation on frailty and health outcomes and tested whether these associations varied across different levels of frailty. We performed a multivariate analysis of data from the first wave of the FRéLE study among 1,643 Canadian older adults aged 65 years and over. We assessed social isolation using social participation, social networks, and support from various social ties, namely, friends, children, extended family, and partner. Frailty predicted disability, comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline. Less social participation was associated with IADLs, depression, and cognitive decline. The absence of friends was associated with depression and cognitive impairment. Less social support from children and partner was related to comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline. Overall, social isolation is linked to mental health, rather than physical health. The associations of having no siblings, receiving less support from friends, and participating less in social activities with ADL limitations, depression, and cognitive decline were higher among frail than pre-frail and robust older adults. This study corroborates the pivotal role of social connectedness, particularly the quality of relationships, on the mental health of older adults. Public health policies on social relationships are paramount to ameliorate the health status of frail older adults.

Download Full-text

Mental Health and Social Connectedness Across the Adult Lifespan in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement ◽

10.1017/s0714980821000477 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Madeline A. Gregory ◽

Nicole K. Legg ◽

Zachary Senay ◽

Jamie-Lee Barden ◽

Peter Phiri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Age Groups ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Future Research ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Adult Age

Abstract The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had profound consequences on collective mental health and well-being, and yet, older adults appear better off than younger adults. The current study examined mental health impacts of the pandemic across adult age groups in a large sample (n = 5,320) of Canadians using multiple hierarchical regression analyses. Results suggest older adults are experiencing better mental health and more social connectedness relative to younger adults. Loneliness predicted negative mental health outcomes across all age groups, while the negative association between social support and mental health was only significant at average and high levels of loneliness in the 65–69 age group. Results point towards differential mental health impacts of the pandemic across adult age groups and indicate that loneliness and social support may be key intervention targets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should further examine mechanisms of resiliency among older Canadian adults during the pandemic.

Download Full-text

Sensory Impairments and Social Isolation Among Hispanic Older Adults: Towards Culturally Sensitive Measurement of Social Isolation

10.1101/2021.11.16.21266422 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Corinna Trujillo Tanner ◽

Jeremy B. Yorgason ◽

Stephanie Richardson ◽

Alisha H. Redelfs ◽

Melanie M. Y. Serrao Hill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Culturally Sensitive ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Future Research ◽

Hearing Disability ◽

Vision Disability ◽

Sensory Disability

Abstract Objectives: Sensory disabilities, including vision disability and hearing disability, increase risk for social isolation, which is associated with multiple negative health outcomes. Existing literature suggests that the cultural value of familism may provide a buffer against social isolation. We examined the longitudinal trajectory of social isolation among Hispanic older adults with self-reported vision disability (SRVD) and self-reported hearing disability (SRHD) and tested a modified measure of social isolation incorporating familism. Methods: We compared 8-year trajectories of social isolation among Hispanics (n = 445) and non-Hispanic Whites (n = 4,861) from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. We used structural equation modeling to explore the longitudinal relationships between sensory disability and social isolation while comparing two measures of social isolation. Results: Social isolation increased longitudinally for both groups, with SRVD significantly associated with higher initial levels. Social isolation started and remained higher across time among Hispanics. Using an adjusted measure of social isolation (added familial support), neither initial levels nor trajectories of social isolation differed between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White participants. Discussion: Initially, Hispanics appeared more socially isolated, reporting less social support from outside the home. Yet, we found that they were more likely to report family social connections. Traditional measures of social isolation focusing on social support outside of the home (neglecting support by family) may lack content validity among Hispanic groups. Culturally sensitive measures of social isolation will be increasingly consequential for future research and health policy to meet the needs of a diverse older population. Keywords: Social Isolation, Sensory Disability, Hispanic, Familism, Culture

Download Full-text

Social Isolation and Well-Being Among Middle-Age and Older Adults: Before and During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.141 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 38-38

Author(s):

Lydia Li

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Well Being ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Physical Isolation ◽

Multiple Dimensions ◽

Aging And Health ◽

Socially Isolated ◽

The Relationship

Abstract This symposium brings together five studies that examined the relationship between social isolation and well-being. Two used pre-COVID data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). One aimed to identify patterns of social isolation trajectory in a 9-year period, where social isolation was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct. It identified four distinct patterns, and the pattern had a gradient relationship with health outcomes. Another examined the association between self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and social well-being among older adults. It found that positive SPA predicted increased social connectedness and reduced loneliness in four years. Two other studies were based on a longitudinal survey (COVID-19 Coping Survey) that began in April 2020. One reports that adults 55+ with comorbidity at pandemic onset had persistently elevated depressive symptoms in a 6-month period, regardless of their social isolation level. Another paper suggests that physical isolation at pandemic onset was associated with elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness throughout the following six months. The fifth paper was based on two-wave data—2019 survey and 2020 COVID supplement—from the National Aging and Health Trend Study (NAHTS). It found that older adults who were very socially isolated and completely homebound before the pandemic experienced less psychological distress during the outbreak than those who were very socially integrated and not homebound. The five studies highlight the multiple dimensions of social isolation, their antecedents and development over time, and their role in shaping mental health in a pandemic context.

Download Full-text

Fostering Intergenerational Connections in the time of Covid-19: A Friendly Caller Program

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3136 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 867-867

Author(s):

Maria Claver ◽

Alexandra Wilkinson ◽

Tatia Clark ◽

Chan Park

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Student Perceptions ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Older Adult ◽

Online Survey ◽

Premature Death ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Future Research ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Self Assessment

Abstract Social isolation affects one in five older adults, significantly increases the risk of premature death from all causes and is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide. Covid-19 has exacerbated social isolation, including among older adults that reside in senior apartments. In response, a Friendly Caller Program was developed to foster intergenerational social connections among university students and residents in a large housing community that serves older adults aged 62 and older who have limited income and have mobility impairments. This study aimed to evaluate the Friendly Caller Program from the perspective of the older adult. An online survey includes questions about the participants’ demographic characteristics, physical and mental health self-assessment, social support, and ways in which the Friendly Caller Program has affected these areas of their life. An open-ended question assesses older adult participant expectations of the Friendly Caller Program. Results describe the population currently being served by this program and indicate that the program has a positive influence on participants’ feelings of safety, support and ability to function. Suggestions for future research include assessing university student perceptions about the benefits of participation as callers in the program and creating a toolkit that can guide other universities to create similar programs in partnership with housing communities that serve older adults.

Download Full-text

Technology and Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Health Inequities Among Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3341 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 931-932

Author(s):

Jeffrey Jutai ◽

Joshua Tuazon

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Health Inequities ◽

Care Seeking ◽

Adverse Health Outcomes ◽

Full Analysis ◽

Advance Research ◽

The Impact

Abstract Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults have been advised to stay-at-home to reduce the risk of infection. Social distancing and quarantine measures increase their vulnerability to adverse health outcomes like depression and cardiovascular disease. Technology is an effective tool to promote social connectedness among older adults affected by the pandemic; however, its role in reducing loneliness and health inequities is not well understood. The goal of this project was to construct a model for how technologies may be deployed to mitigate the impact of a pandemic on social isolation, loneliness, and health inequities for older adults. PubMed, SCOPUS, and PsychINFO were searched for the following keywords: “social isolation,” “loneliness,” “social support,” “resilience,” “technology,” “pandemic,” and “health inequities.” Articles selected for full analysis attempted to understand or observe how technology alleviates social isolation and/or loneliness among older adults. Research evidence indicates that using technology reduces loneliness directly and indirectly (by reducing social isolation) and can strengthen social support, which in turn promotes resilience among older adults. Video-based technologies encourage care-seeking behaviors in this population. There is insufficient evidence to determine technology’s relationship to health inequities experienced by older adults. The model we have proposed should help advance research on the relationship between technology and health inequities among older adults that may be aggravated by pandemic-like situations. We hypothesize that technology interventions for social support and functional competence should be sequenced in order to have the best effects on reducing health disparities.

Download Full-text