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Teaching and Practicing Cognitive-Behavioral and Mindfulness Skills in a Web-Based Platform among Older Adults through the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Author

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  • Stav Shapira

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
    PREPARED Center for Emergency Response Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel)

  • Ella Cohn-Schwartz

    (The Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel)

  • Daphna Yeshua-Katz

    (Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel)

  • Limor Aharonson-Daniel

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
    PREPARED Center for Emergency Response Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel)

  • Avram Mark Clarfield

    (Medical School for International Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
    The Department of Geriatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada)

  • Orly Sarid

    (The Spitzer Department of Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel)

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an acceleration in the development of web-based interventions to alleviate related mental health impacts. The current study explored the effects of a short-term digital group intervention aimed at providing cognitive behavioral and mindfulness tools and skills to reduce loneliness and depression and to increase social support among older adults in Israel. This pilot randomized controlled trial included community-dwelling older adults ( n = 82; aged between 65–90 years; 80% female) who were randomized either to an intervention group ( n = 64) or a wait-list control group ( n = 18). The intervention included seven online sessions, over 3.5 weeks. Depression, loneliness, and social support measures were administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed statistically and clinically significant reductions in depression in the intervention group, with results maintained at one-month follow-up. Loneliness levels also significantly decreased post-intervention; however, this benefit was not maintained at one-month follow-up. Social support slightly increased both post-intervention and 1-month follow-up—but these changes were not statistically significant. There were no overall changes for the wait-list control group. Our intervention provided promising evidence regarding the effectiveness of an online group intervention to alleviate mental health effects and to promote the coping of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This relatively simple model can be effectively utilized by communities globally to help connect lonely and isolated older inhabitants, both during the pandemic and in more routine times.

Suggested Citation

  • Stav Shapira & Ella Cohn-Schwartz & Daphna Yeshua-Katz & Limor Aharonson-Daniel & Avram Mark Clarfield & Orly Sarid, 2021. "Teaching and Practicing Cognitive-Behavioral and Mindfulness Skills in a Web-Based Platform among Older Adults through the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10563-:d:652194
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. María Antonia Parra-Rizo & Gema Sanchís-Soler, 2021. "Physical Activity and the Improvement of Autonomy, Functional Ability, Subjective Health, and Social Relationships in Women over the Age of 60," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    2. Oliver Huxhold & Elena Hees & Noah J. Webster, 2020. "Towards bridging the grey digital divide: changes in internet access and its predictors from 2002 to 2014 in Germany," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 271-280, September.
    3. Dorit Segal-Engelchin & Ephrat Huss & Orly Sarid, 2021. "The Use of Online CB-ART Interventions in the Context of COVID-19: Enhancing Salutogenic Coping," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-8, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hyun-Jeong Yang & Noriko Setou & Eugene Koh, 2022. "Utilization of Mind–Body Intervention for Integrative Health Care of COVID-19 Patients and Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-22, May.
    2. Joana Bernardo & João Apóstolo & Ricardo Loureiro & Elaine Santana & Nilufer Korkmaz Yaylagul & Carina Dantas & Filipa Ventura & Filipa Margarida Duque & Nina Jøranson & Minna Zechner & Willeke van St, 2022. "eHealth Platforms to Promote Autonomous Life and Active Aging: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Sen-Chi Yu & Chun-Wei Chang, 2022. "The Effect of Positive Intervention Dosing Frequency: Fixed Intervals May Decrease More Depression than Flexible Ones," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-10, July.

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