LEAPTogether: An Intergenerational Intervention to Address Loneliness and Social Isolation
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Older adult participants will engage in exercise videos twice a week for 8 weeks either while paired with a peer (same age group) or paired with a younger adult with the ability to simultaneously video chat while exercising.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
Participation in this study includes:
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Completing assessments at baseline (start of study), 8 weeks, and 16 weeks
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Initial meeting with an Exercise Physiologist to determine exercise interests and preferences
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Being matched with an exercise partner
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Virtually meeting with partner to engage in exercise videos via the FlexTogether platform (meet twice a week for a total of 8 weeks)
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Attend a live group class once a month
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Completing an exit interview
Primary Objective:
To assess feasibility by monitoring adherence to an 8-week virtual paired exercise program for older adults
Secondary Objectives:
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To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e., older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to enhance social connectedness, decrease loneliness, improve well-being, and increase physical activity in older adults and younger adult participants in the short-term (pre-post) through surveys and qualitative interviews
-
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e., older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to enhance social connectedness, decrease loneliness, improve well-being, and increase physical activity in older adults and younger adult participants in the long-term (8 weeks post-intervention / 18 weeks on study) through surveys and qualitative interviews
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Peer Pairings Two older adults paired |
Behavioral: Peer Virtual Paired Exercise
Participants will be paired with someone of the same age group and will engage in exercise videos with the ability to simultaneously video chat with their partner while exercising. Participants will log on with their partner twice a week for 8 weeks.
|
| Experimental: Intergenerational Pairings A younger adult and older adult paired |
Behavioral: Intergenerational Virtual Paired Exercise
Participants will be paired with someone older/ younger and will engage in exercise videos with the ability to simultaneously video chat with their partner while exercising. Participants will log on with their partner twice a week for 8 weeks.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Adherence to an 8-week virtual paired exercise program for older adults [Attendance over 8-weeks]
Adherence defined as attending at least 12 out of 16 sessions (70% attendance)
Secondary Outcome Measures
- social connectedness per units in scale [baseline and 10 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to enhance social connectedness in the short-term (pre-post) through Duke Social Support Index (min score- 11, max score- 33; higher score indicates higher social support and interaction).
- pre/post loneliness per units in scale [baseline and 10 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to decrease loneliness in the short-term (pre-post) through UCLA Loneliness Survey (min score- 3, max score- 9; higher scores correspond to higher feelings of loneliness)
- pre/post emotional, social, and psychological well-being per units in scale [baseline and 10 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to improve well-being in the short-term (pre-post) through Mental Health Continuum Short-Form (min score- 14, max score- 84; higher scores indicate greater levels of positive well-being)
- pre/post expectations regarding aging per units in scale [baseline and 10 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to improve well-being in the short-term (pre-post) through Expectations Regarding Aging Survey (min score- 12, max score- 48; higher score indicates higher (positive) expectations of aging)
- pre/post generativity per units in scale [baseline and 10 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to improve well-being in the short-term (pre-post) through Baltimore Experience Corps Trial Generativity Scale (min score- 13, max score- 65; higher score indicates higher levels of generativity)
- pre/post physical activity per units in scale [baseline and 10 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to increase physical activity in older adults and younger adult participants in the short-term (pre-post) through Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (min score- 0, max score- 24+; total of 14 or less indicates insufficient activity/sedentary lifestyle, 24 units or more indicates active lifestyle)
- pre/post physical activity per 30 second sit to stand [baseline and 10 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to increase physical activity in older adults and younger adult participants in the short-term (pre-post) through 30 second sit to stand (how many times can the participant sit and stand without using their hands in a 30 second period, higher number indicates higher level of endurance)
- long-term social connectedness per units in scale [18 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to enhance social connectedness in the long-term (4.5 months/18 weeks) through Duke Social Support Index (min score- 11, max score- 33; higher score indicates higher social support and interaction).
- long-term loneliness per units in scale [18 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to decrease loneliness in the long-term (4.5 months/18 weeks) through UCLA Loneliness Survey (min score- 3, max score- 9; higher scores correspond to higher feelings of loneliness)
- long-term expectations regarding aging per units in scale [18 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to improve well-being in the long-term (4.5 months/18 weeks) through Expectations Regarding Aging Survey (min score- 12, max score- 48; higher score indicates higher (positive) expectations of aging)
- long-term emotional, social, and psychological well-being per units in scale [18 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to improve well-being in the long-term (4.5 months/18 weeks) through Mental Health Continuum Short-Form (min score- 14, max score- 84; higher scores indicate greater levels of positive well-being)
- long-term generativity per units in scale [18 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components (i.e. solo, older adults together, younger and older adult pairing) within a virtual program necessary to improve well-being in the long-term (4.5 months/18 weeks) through Baltimore Experience Corps Trial Generativity Scale (min score- 13, max score- 65; higher score indicates higher levels of generativity)
- long-term physical activity per units in scale [18 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components within a virtual program necessary to increase physical activity in older adults and younger adult participants in the long-term (4.5 months/18 weeks) through Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (min score- 0, max score- 24+; total of 14 or less indicates insufficient activity/sedentary lifestyle, 24 units or more indicates active lifestyle)
- long-term physical activity per 30 second sit to stand [18 weeks]
To mechanistically investigate the key social pairing components within a virtual program necessary to increase physical activity in older adults and younger adult participants in the long-term (4.5 months/18 weeks) through 30 second sit to stand (how many times can the participant sit and stand without using their hands in a 30 second period, higher number indicates higher level of endurance)
- Key social pairing components in virtual programming [10 weeks]
Qualitative interview to capture any other thoughts and observations from participants that are not easily captured in surveys
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Verbal informed consent obtained from subject and ability for subject to comply with the requirements of the study
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Age 18-30 years for younger adults
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Age greater than or equal to 65 years for older adults
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Has access to a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer with video capabilities connected to the internet with a screen at least 13 inches across
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Able to read, write, and understand English
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Has a 5 x 6 foot space at home in which to exercise
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current diagnosis of dementia
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | Beverly Hills | California | United States | 90211 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- FlexTogether
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Celina H Shirazipour, Ph.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Principal Investigator: Allison M Mays, MD, MAS, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Principal Investigator: Sonja Rosen, MD, FACP, AGSF, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- Kim Y, Kim J, Lee JM, Seo DC, Jung HC. Intergenerational Taekwondo Program: A Narrative Review and Practical Intervention Proposal. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 26;19(9):5247. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095247.
- Koenig HG, Westlund RE, George LK, Hughes DC, Blazer DG, Hybels C. Abbreviating the Duke Social Support Index for use in chronically ill elderly individuals. Psychosomatics. 1993 Jan-Feb;34(1):61-9. doi: 10.1016/S0033-3182(93)71928-3.
- Perissinotto CM, Stijacic Cenzer I, Covinsky KE. Loneliness in older persons: a predictor of functional decline and death. Arch Intern Med. 2012 Jul 23;172(14):1078-83. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1993.
- Peters R, Ee N, Ward SA, Kenning G, Radford K, Goldwater M, Dodge HH, Lewis E, Xu Y, Kudrna G, Hamilton M, Peters J, Anstey KJ, Lautenschlager NT, Fitzgerald A, Rockwood K. Intergenerational Programmes bringing together community dwelling non-familial older adults and children: A Systematic Review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2021 May-Jun;94:104356. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104356. Epub 2021 Jan 28.
- Rikli RE, Jones CJ. Development and Validation of a Functional Fitness Test for Community-Residing Older Adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 01 Apr. 1999 1999;7(2):129-161. doi:10.1123/japa.7.2.129
- Rizzo N. Fitness Industry Statistics 2021-2028 [Market Research]. 2021. https://runrepeat.com/fitness-industry
- Ronzi S, Orton L, Pope D, Valtorta NK, Bruce NG. What is the impact on health and wellbeing of interventions that foster respect and social inclusion in community-residing older adults? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies. Syst Rev. 2018 Jan 30;7(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13643-018-0680-2.
- Russell D, Peplau LA, Ferguson ML. Developing a measure of loneliness. J Pers Assess. 1978 Jun;42(3):290-4. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4203_11.
- Steptoe A, Shankar A, Demakakos P, Wardle J. Social isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 9;110(15):5797-801. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1219686110. Epub 2013 Mar 25.
- Teater B. Intergenerational Programs to Promote Active Aging: The Experiences and Perspectives of Older Adults. Activities, Adaptation & Aging. 2016/01/02 2016;40(1):1-19. doi:10.1080/01924788.2016.1127041
- Tiwari SC. Loneliness: A disease? Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Oct;55(4):320-2. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.120536. No abstract available.
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