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The Economic Consequences of Loneliness Among the Elderly

NCT04225845 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 1120

Last updated 2025-08-28

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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.

Conditions

  • Loneliness

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Phone therapy

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

BEHAVIORAL

Cash transfer

One-time cash transfer of Rs.1000.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)

    collaborator NIH

  • Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab

    collaborator OTHER

  • National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
55 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-11-01
Primary Completion
2022-12-31
Completion
2023-12-31

Countries

  • India

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04225845 on ClinicalTrials.gov