The Economic Consequences of Loneliness Among the Elderly

NCT ID: NCT04225845

Last Updated: 2025-08-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

1120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-11-01

Study Completion Date

2023-12-31

Brief Summary

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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.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Loneliness

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Phone therapy

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

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Phone therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

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

Phone therapy plus cash transfer

Weekly phone calls by lay trained personnel to deliver problem solving therapy. Combined with a one-time cash transfer of Rs.1000.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Phone therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

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

Cash transfer

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

One-time cash transfer of Rs.1000.

Cash transfer

One-time cash transfer of Rs.1000.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Cash transfer

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

One-time cash transfer of Rs.1000.

Control

Control group.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Phone therapy

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

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Cash transfer

One-time cash transfer of Rs.1000.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* At least 55 years of age
* Individuals living alone

Exclusion Criteria

\-
Minimum Eligible Age

55 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Esther Duflo

Research Associate, NBER; Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics, MIT

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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JPAL SA at IFMR

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Site Status

Countries

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India

References

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McKelway M, Banerjee A, Grela E, Schilbach F, Sequeira M, Sharma G, Vaidyanathan G, Duflo E. Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cash Transfers on Older Persons Living Alone in India : A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2023 May;176(5):632-641. doi: 10.7326/M22-2496. Epub 2023 Apr 25.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37094349 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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P01AG005842

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

172020

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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