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.
Social isolation and loneliness contributed to poor health outcomes among rural older adults prior to COVID-19. Physical distancing protocols during COVID-19 exacerbated social disconnect of rural older adults and paused in-person intergenerational programs. Pilot data from a Cyber-Seniors program that was adapted for virtual delivery and participation during the pandemic (2020-2021) indicates positive health outcomes for older adults (improved social isolation and loneliness). This presentation will address a gap between outcomes and the implementation process of the intergenerational technology program. Multi-method data on student experiences as technology mentors working at a distance suggest a need for an evaluation of program implementation. The type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid design includes quantitative measures of student outcomes (ageism, social isolation, and loneliness) and qualitative analysis of students’ program implementation experiences. Students identified challenges accessing and working with the online platforms, scheduling meetings with older adults, and providing support with online systems by phone.
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