Virtual Intergenerational Reverse-Mentoring Program Reduces Loneliness among Older Adults: Results from a Pilot Evaluation

Jill J. Juris, Erin D. Bouldin, Katherine Uva, Christopher D. Cardwell, Anastacia Schulhoff and Nicole Hiegl
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Jill J. Juris: Beaver College of Health Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA
Erin D. Bouldin: Beaver College of Health Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA
Katherine Uva: Beaver College of Health Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA
Christopher D. Cardwell: Beaver College of Health Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA
Anastacia Schulhoff: College of Arts and Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA
Nicole Hiegl: High Country Area Agency on Aging, Boone, NC 28607, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Social isolation and loneliness can create negative health outcomes for older adults. Informed by social capital and intergroup contact theories, our goal was to reduce these social problems using an intergenerational reverse-mentoring program. During fall 2020, we implemented an adapted, fully online version of Cyber-Seniors that encouraged undergraduate students to provide technology mentoring to local older adults in a seven-county area in rural Appalachia. We recruited gerontology students through the university and local older adults through local aging organizations. We collected data through pre-and post-tests that included validated measures (Lubben Social Network Scale-6 and UCLA 3-item loneliness scale) and open-ended questions about the program. Thirty-one students and nine older adults completed the pre-survey; twenty students and eight older adults completed the post-survey. We made comparisons using t-tests and considered p < 0.20 to indicate meaningful differences given the anticipated small sample size in this pilot project. Isolation did not change among older adults but increased among students in the family domain ( p = 0.14) between baseline and follow-up. Loneliness improved between the pre- and post-tests among older adults (mean: 5.6 (SD = 2.2) to 4.1 (SD = 1.3), p = 0.17) but not among students (mean: 5.0 (SD = 1.5) to 5.2 (SD = 1.7), p = 0.73). In open-ended responses, older adults described learning new ways to interact with friends and family as a result of the program. This program was acceptable and suggested effectiveness in an important health-related domain (loneliness). While larger studies are needed to fully test the program’s impact, this pilot evaluation suggests that reverse mentoring programs can be implemented virtually and may improve social outcomes.

Keywords: intergenerational; loneliness; social isolation; program evaluation; internet-based intervention; rural population; reverse mentoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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