Controlled Evaluation of the Pilot Delivery to Older Adults of the Making the Connection Intervention

Background and Purpose: Social isolation, a scarcity of contacts or social encounters of reduced quality or quantity, can impact health and quality of life. This is measured by an individual’s physical, social, psychological, and spiritual health; ability and motivation to access adequate support for themselves; and the quality of the environment and community in which they live. Often coupled with social isolation, loneliness is when an individual’s perception of their interactions with others does not meet their expectations, causing negative emotional and health consequences. Health, life events, vulnerability, location, and mobility and sensory impairment may play roles in the experience of isolation and loneliness. More needs to be known about these experiences among older adults to identify meaning specifically for older adults, key variables that may explain differences in experiences and to identify areas for intervention. This quantitative study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Making the Connection (MTC) program, a psychoeducational intervention that utilizes skill building to help participants connect better with others and reduce their experience of loneliness and social isolation.

Methods: This pilot study utilized a pre-test/post-test design. Quantitative data was collected in person from participants at the commencement of the 10-week intervention and again after intervention completion. Control subjects were assessed over a similar period. The group was aged 60 and older, included women and men and White and Black participants. 56 intervention and control subjects were matched prior to analyses using propensity scoring techniques and the variables age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Measures utilized included the UCLA three-point scale for loneliness, the Lubben Social Network Scale, the Social Meaning in Life Events Scale, and the CES-D for depressive symptoms. Qualitative data was also captured in open-ended questions to give additional insight into findings. As this was a pilot study, participants in MTC were also asked about areas for improvement to the intervention.

Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 29 and thematic analysis was utilized to consider themes emerging from open-ended responses.

Findings: There were a range of summed responses to the utilized scales. Preliminary group by time findings, using matched samples of intervention participants and usual treatment control subjects, were that those attending MTC were more likely to increase their social connections, reduce symptoms of depression, and find meaning in the changes they experienced by the end of the intervention. Participants in MTC were very satisfied with the format, length, and content of the intervention, but did offer some suggestions for future delivery.

Conclusion and Implications: Findings of depressive symptoms and loneliness were similar to other reports for older adults. The MTC intervention appears feasible, useful, and capable of influencing connectedness and mental health. This pilot implementation of MTC will be used to refine the program in advance of further dissemination and evaluation.