Effects of Psychosocial Group Rehabilitation on Health, Use of Health Care Services, and Mortality of Older Persons Suffering From Loneliness: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Loneliness is a distressing feeling of a lack of satisfying human relationships. It is associated with poor quality of life, impaired health, and increased mortality among older individuals. The study aim was to determine the effects of new psychosocial group rehabilitation on the subjective health, use and costs of health services, and mortality of lonely older individuals. METHODS: This randomized, controlled trial was performed in seven day care centers. A total of 235 older people (>74 years) suffering from loneliness participated. Intervention was implemented in 15 groups (each with 7-8 participants and 2 professional group leaders) meeting for 3 months altogether 12 times. Group intervention aimed to empower elderly people, and to promote their peer support and social integration. Intervention was based on the effects of closed-group dynamics. The groups had the following activities according to the participants' interests: (a) therapeutic writing and group psychotherapy, (b) group exercise and discussions, and (c) art activities. Group leaders received thorough training and tutoring. Subjective health, use and costs of health services, and mortality were measured. RESULTS: At 2 years, survival was 97% in the intervention group (95% confidence interval [CI], 91-99) and 90% in the control group (95% CI, 85-95) (p = .047). The intervention group showed a significant improvement in subjective health, thus resulting in significantly lower health care costs during the follow-up: the difference between the groups was -943 euro/person per y (95% CI -1955 to -127; p = .039). CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial group rehabilitation was associated with lower mortality and less use of health services.
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Since the end of the search period (May 2009), new analysis of data derived from a study already included in the review has provided additional evidence suggesting beneficial effects for a psychosocial group intervention.
“since the end of our search period (May 2009), new analysis [87] of data derived from a study already included in our review [13] has provided additional evidence suggesting beneficial effects for a psychosocial group intervention.”
From Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review (2011) · cites this paper as [87]
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- Authors
- Pitkala, K. H., Routasalo, P., Kautiainen, H., & Tilvis, R. S.
- Affiliations
- Helsinki University Hospital (FI)
- Reumasäätiön sairaala (FI)
- ORCID
- Kautiainen, H.
- Venue
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2009-02-17
- Volume
- 64A
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 792-800
- ISSN
- 1079-5006 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-535X
- OpenAlex
- W2098046307
- Cited by
- 183
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 7.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Keywords
- loneliness, older adults, psychosocial group intervention, group therapy, social integration, peer support, mortality, health care utilization, health care costs, self-rated health, daycare centers, therapeutic writing, art activities, group exercise
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aging, Female, Finland, Health Services for the Aged, Health Status, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Loneliness, Male, Psychotherapy, Group, Risk Factors, Survival Analysis, Health Care Costs
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