The effectiveness of facilitator-led remote interactive intervention for loneliness, quality of life, and social support among seniors in communities during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled experiment

Abstract

Objective This study investigated the impact of a 12-week remote interaction intervention on loneliness, quality of life, and social support for seniors living in a community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This study adopted a randomized controlled trial design. Participants in the intervention group received a 12-week bidirectional remote interaction intervention, while participants in the control group received a 12-week unidirectional remote interaction intervention. The study’s primary assessment tools were the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). Results The main findings indicate that the intervention group scored significantly higher than the control group on the WHOQOL-BREF in the physical health and social relationships domains after the intervention. In addition, intervention group participants with low loneliness scored significantly higher than their control group counterparts in the physical health and social relationships domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Similarly, intervention group participants with high loneliness scored significantly higher than their control group counterparts in the social relationships domain of the WHOQOL-BREF. However, there was no significant difference in loneliness scores between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions This result confirms that providing intensive bidirectional interaction benefits seniors’ quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.