Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention versus a social contact control in alleviating loneliness among older adults: a randomised controlled trial.

Summary

While both mindfulness and social contact interventions reduced loneliness among 245 Chinese older adults, mindfulness-based programs were not superior in alleviating loneliness after 12 months (between-group effect size -0.21). However, participants in the mindfulness group (n=123) reported reduced depressive symptoms and a decreasing trend in anxiety at 6 months compared to the social contact group (n=122). This Psychology finding suggests Community Mental Health Services could prioritize mindfulness for lonely older adults with prominent Mental Health challenges like depression or anxiety.

Abstract

Loneliness is highly prevalent among Chinese older adults. Mindfulness-based interventions for older adults (MBOA) have demonstrated potential in alleviating loneliness. However, few studies have employed active controls with long-term follow-up. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of MBOA in reducing loneliness compared with social contact control (SCC). This parallel, randomised controlled trial (RCT) assigned community-dwelling lonely Chinese older adults (≥60 years) in Hong Kong to MBOA or SCC. Both interventions comprised 8 weekly 1.5-hour group-based face-to-face sessions. Assessments were conducted at baseline, postintervention and at 6-month and 12-month postrandomisation. The primary outcome was loneliness score at 12 months, analysed using analysis of covariance under the intention-to-treat approach. Secondary outcomes included depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life and healthcare utilisation. Changes in psychological measures were analysed using linear mixed models. A total of 245 eligible participants were randomised to MBOA (n=123) or SCC (n=122). No significant between-group difference in primary outcome was found (mean difference=-0.14, p=0.52, effect size=-0.21), although both groups showed improvement in loneliness (within-group effect size: MBOA=-0.58, SCC=-0.31). MBOA participants reported reduced depressive symptoms and a decreasing trend in anxiety at 6 months compared with SCC. This is the first RCT examining efficacy of MBOA in alleviating loneliness among Chinese older adults using an active control with long-term assessments. MBOA is not superior to SCC in reducing loneliness, although it may reduce psychological symptoms. Clinicians could consider prioritising mindfulness-based interventions for lonely older adults when depressive or anxiety symptoms are prominent.

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