The Economic Consequences of Loneliness Among the Elderly

National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Loneliness

Treatments: Behavioral: Cash transfer; Behavioral: Phone therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04225845

P01AG005842 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

172020

Details and patient eligibility

About

Elderly individuals across the world are increasingly living alone. However, little is known about the effects of loneliness on economic and health outcomes. The elderly living alone (i.e., in a household of size 1) will be randomized into one of two cross-randomized intervention arms or a control condition to improve older individuals' mental wellbeing as well as ability to cover basic needs, particularly in times of COVID (including health). The first intervention will focus on improving the elderly's outlook on life and relationships through problem-solving therapy (PST) delivered over the phone. The second will deliver to them a one-time cash transfer of Rs.1000, equivalent to the emergency help amount distributed to ration card holder by the government of Tamil Nadu. Each intervention will be offered on its own in each of two treatment arms, and in combination in a third. A control group will receive no intervention. Investigators will track outcomes of the elderly at 3 weeks and 3 months after the intervention.

Enrollment: 1,120 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 55+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• At least 55 years of age
• Individuals living alone

Exclusion criteria

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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1,120 participants in 4 patient groups

Phone therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Weekly phone calls by lay trained personnel to deliver problem solving therapy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Phone therapy

Phone therapy plus cash transfer

Experimental group

Description:

Weekly phone calls by lay trained personnel to deliver problem solving therapy. Combined with a one-time cash transfer of Rs.1000.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Phone therapy

Behavioral: Cash transfer

Cash transfer

Experimental group

Description:

One-time cash transfer of Rs.1000.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cash transfer

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group.