The Loneliness Epidemic Tailoring Interventions to Reduce Loneliness and Pain

Building upon existing evidence on loneliness and pain research, conversational voice assistant (CVA)technology and personalized persuasion, we have assembled an interdisciplinary and inter-institutional team of researchers to conduct a 12-week randomized control pilot with older adults that live alone and self-report pain. Participants will interact with a standard or a personally enhanced loneliness routine delivered through a CVA. We will explore intervention feasibility and examine the efficacy of both standard and personalized interventions on loneliness and secondary outcomes. Inclusion: 1) men and women 60 years of age; 2) live alone (single-family home, independent, or assisted living); 3) self-report have experienced or currently experiencing musculoskeletal pain; and 4) wireless internet access via a broadband Internet connection. Exclusion: 1) memory loss as evidenced by poor performance on the Mini Cog; 2) inability to speak English; 3) prior study participation; 4) prior use or current use of a conversational voice assistant; and 5) not willing to engage with the voice assistant. Our proposed study is comprised of 1) a one week pre-study session for participant equipment set-up, training, and baseline pre- study data collection; 2) a 12-week randomized trial of the standard or the enhanced CVA delivered interventions; and 3) a one-week post-study data collection.