Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Feb 7, 2024
Date Accepted: Oct 7, 2024
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A messenger-app-based information provision for promoting social participation to enhance well-being among community-dwelling adults: A randomized controlled study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Engaging in social activities, interacting with peers, and participating in community events may promote health and well-being. Recently, interventions leveraging information and communications technology (ICT) have emerged as potent tools for promoting social connections and well-being. Particularly, messenger apps have become an integral part of our daily lives, facilitating communication, information dissemination, and social interaction. However, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the utilization of widely adopted messenger apps for this purpose.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of a messenger-app-based information provision on the promotion of social participation and the enhancement of subjective well-being among Japanese community-dwelling adults.
Methods:
A two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted from October 2022 to January 2023 in the Kashiwa-no-ha campus area, Japan—an urban community with active local events. A total of 358 community-dwelling adults, using messenger apps daily, were recruited for the study. Of these, 235 participants completed the follow-up survey. Participants were randomized to either the intervention group, receiving the health benefits of social participation and information about local events/spots via a messenger app, or the control group, receiving general health information. The primary outcome was subjective happiness post intervention, measured on an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (Unhappy) to 10 (Happy). Secondary outcomes included life satisfaction, meaning of life, and purpose in life. The outcomes were analyzed with t-tests and multivariable regression based on the intention-to-treat method.
Results:
Post intervention, the intervention group reported a mean happiness score of 7.7 (standard deviation 1.7), while the control group reported 7.5 (standard deviation 2.0), with no statistically significant difference. Multivariable linear regression analysis adjusted for baseline outcome values and covariates showed that the coefficient of the intervention for life satisfaction was 0.30 [95% confidence interval: -0.07 – 0.68, p = .12], while that for meaning of life was 0.33 [95% confidence interval: -0.03 – 0.70], p = .072). There was no significant difference in event participation rates between the two groups during the study period. However, 82.2% of the intervention group acknowledged the utility of the event information provided.
Conclusions:
The messenger-app-based strategy did not yield a significant increase in subjective happiness, while there was a positive trend in life satisfaction. The findings underscore the need for more intensive intervention in future studies to harness the potential of digital interventions. Clinical Trial: UMIN-CTR: 000049047
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