Digital Monitoring of Sleep, Meals, and Physical Activity for Reducing Depression in Older Spousally-Bereaved Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a behavioral intervention and explore its impact on depression symptom burden among older spousally-bereaved adults. MethodsParticipants were age ≥60 years, bereaved ≤8 months, and at high risk for depression. Participants were randomized to 12 weeks of digital monitoring of sleep, meals, and physical activity; digital monitoring plus health coaching; or enhanced usual care and followed for 9 months for new-episode depression. ResultsWe enrolled 57 participants, 85% of eligible adults and 38% of all adults screened. We observed high levels of adherence in both digital monitoring (90%) and health coaching (92%); 88% of participants were retained. In linear mixed-effects models, depression symptoms significantly decreased, but the interaction between time and intervention was not significant. ConclusionA behavioral intervention that uses both digital monitoring and motivational health coaching is feasible and acceptable to older bereaved adults.