Abstract
Information and communication technologies such as the iPad are important instruments for reducing loneliness and improving social connectedness. The present study examined change in loneliness following an iPad training program. A sample of 46 women and 9 men, aged 63 to 95, was drawn from community-dwelling older adults. Loneliness and key variables were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. A 6-month iPad training was delivered following baseline measurement. We hypothesized that iPad training would reduce loneliness, and that increases in the reported number of close friends would be negatively associated with loneliness. We performed a tobit-mixed-effects model including age, socioeconomic status, meal habits, baseline number of friends, change in number of friends from baseline, and time. Data revealed both baseline number of friends and increases in the number of friends were negatively associated with loneliness. Eating meals alone was associated with more loneliness and increased age was associated with decreased loneliness. Loneliness did not change over time. Because this contradicted our initial hypothesis, we performed a follow-up analysis to test whether ‘change in number of friends’ was accounting for the effect of time. We removed this variable from the model and re-ran the analysis. In this model, loneliness was significantly lower in the follow-up period than either baseline or end of the intervention. Findings suggest that iPads can be used as a suitable intervention for loneliness in older adults by helping improve relationships with family and friends. Implications of the findings are discussed for practitioners, researchers, and policy-makers.