JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Loneliness is a significant wellbeing issue affecting older adults. Existing off the shelf social connection platforms do not contain facilities designed to break the cognitive cycle of loneliness, and loneliness interventions implemented without due process could cause detriments to wellbeing. There is also lack of digital technology designed with older adults.

Objective:

We set out to iteratively design a user-centered smartphone app that could address older adult loneliness. The aims were to investigate the loneliness related psychological processes that our conceptual smartphone app promotes. We also identified the emergent needs and concerns older adults raised regarding the potential benefits and detriments of the app.

Methods:

We used technology probes to elicit older adults' reflection on the concept of using the app in two studies: Concept focus groups (N=33) and Concept interviews (N=10), and then conducted a prototype trial with one week of use and follow up interviews (N=12).

Results:

A thematic analysis explored the experience and emergent challenges of our app through the design process. This led to the development of four themes occurring in all three qualitative datasets: 1) Reflection on a digital social map is reassuring, 2) App features encourage socializing, 3) Risk of compounding loneliness, and 4) Feeling more control with mutual, socially beneficial activities.

Conclusions:

Smartphone apps have the potential to increase older people’s awareness of the richness of their social connections, which may support loneliness reduction. Our qualitative approach to app design enabled the inclusion of older adults' experiences in the technology design. With that, we conclude that our older adults most desired functionalities that can support mutual activities and maintaining or finding new connections, rather than sharing of emotional state. They were wary of the app replacing preferred in-person social interactions. Participants also raised concerns about making the user aware of a lack of support in their social network, and wanted specific means of addressing their needs. Further user-centered design work could identify how the app can support mutual activities and socializing.