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Effects of Wisdom-Enhancement Narrative-Therapy and Empathy-Focused interventions on loneliness over 4 weeks among older adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Jiang, Da; Tang, Vivien Foong Yee; Kahlon, Maninder; Chow, Esther Oi-Wah; Yeung, Dannii Yuen-Lan; Aubrey, Rhonda; Chou, Kee-Lee.
Affiliation
  • Jiang D; Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong (DJ), Taipo, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: djiang@eduhk.hk.
  • Tang VFY; Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong (VFYT, KLC), Taipo, Hong Kong, China.
  • Kahlon M; Department of Population Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin (MK, RA), Texas, USA.
  • Chow EO; Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Shue Yan University (EOWC), North Point, Hong Kong, China.
  • Yeung DY; Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong (DYLY), Hong Kong, China.
  • Aubrey R; Department of Population Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin (MK, RA), Texas, USA.
  • Chou KL; Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong (VFYT, KLC), Taipo, Hong Kong, China.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39138085
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

In this three-armed RCT, we tested the effects of a telephone-delivered wisdom enhancement narrative therapy-based intervention (Tele-NT) and a telephone-delivered empathy-focused intervention (Tele-EP) in reducing loneliness against an active control group that received regular call (ACG) at the 4-week follow-up assessment. DESIGN, SETTING, INTERVENTION, AND

PARTICIPANTS:

To evaluate the effects of the interventions on loneliness, we randomized 287 older adults based in Hong Kong, ages 65 to 90, into Tele-NT (N = 97), Tele-EP (N = 95), or ACG (N = 95). MEASUREMENT The primary outcome was loneliness, calculated using the De Jong Gierveld Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Secondary outcomes were sleep quality, depressive symptoms, social network engagement, and perceived social support. Assessments were done before training and 4 weeks after the intervention period.

RESULTS:

Results from linear mixed models showed significant positive effects of Tele-NT on loneliness measured by the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale compared to ACG. Compared to the ACG, the Tele-NT group significantly reduced loneliness at the 4-week follow-up (mean difference = -0.51, p = 0.019, Cohen's d = 0.60). However, the difference between Tele-EP and the ACG at the 4-week follow-up was not significant (MD = -0.34, p = 0.179, Cohen's d = 0.49). Tele-NT and Tele-EP did not show significant effects on the secondary outcomes, compared to the ACG.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this randomized clinical trial, we found that a 4-week wisdom enhancement narrative therapy program significantly reduced feelings of loneliness. This effective telephone-based, lay-therapist-delivered program is scalable for broader implementation.
Key words

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Language: En Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Year: 2024 Document type: Article

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Language: En Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Year: 2024 Document type: Article