AUTHOR=Gould Christine E. , Carlson Chalise , Alfaro Ana Jessica , Chick Christina F. , Bruce Martha L. , Forman-Hoffman Valerie L. 

TITLE=Changes in Quality of Life and Loneliness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Participating in Therapist-Guided Digital Mental Health Intervention

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.746904

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.746904

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week multicomponent mobile app-delivered intervention, the Meru Health Program (MHP), on mental health quality of life and loneliness among middle-aged and older adults with depression symptoms. 

Methods: Eligible participants (M age = 57.06, SD = 11.26 years) were enrolled in the MHP, a therapist-supported mobile intervention. Using a non-randomized pre-post design, change in mental health QoL (WHOQOL-BREF psychological health) and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) from baseline to post-treatment were examined. Time of enrollment (Pre- versus Post-COVID) was included as a between-subjects factor in repeated measures analyses. 

Results: Forty-two participants enrolled prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; eight enrolled after the pandemic began. Among pre-COVID enrollees, increase in mental health QoL, F(1,38) = 12.61, p = .001, η2 = .25 and decreases in loneliness emerged, F(1,38) = 5.42, p = .025, η2 = .13. Changes in mental health QoL, but not loneliness, held for the combined sample, including post-COVID enrollees, F(1,44) = 6.02, p = .018, η2 = .12. Regression analyses showed that increases in mindfulness were associated with increased mental health QoL and decreased loneliness.

Conclusion: Therapist-supported digital mental health interventions, such as the MHP, have the potential to improve mental health QoL and decrease loneliness among middle-aged and older adults. The findings for loneliness may not hold during periods of mandated isolation. Instead, therapists supporting digital interventions may need to tailor their approach to target loneliness.