Meaning-centred intervention for managing loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol.

Abstract

Background: Loneliness can pose serious health and psychological concerns among community-dwelling older adults. Meaning-centred interventions, which aim to help individuals find meaning in their lives, appeared to alleviate loneliness among older adults. Yet, systematic evidence on the effectiveness of meaning-centred intervention and the experience among older adults towards this intervention is lacking. This review will systematically synthesise the evidence to examine the effect of meaning-centred intervention on loneliness among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review (MMSR) with a convergent segregated approach will be employed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for MMSRs. Relevant studies will be searched from inception to 31 December 2024 from nine databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, ProQuest Social Science, Wangfang, and Google Scholar. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods study designs will be included. Two authors will independently perform data extraction and complete risk of bias and quality assessment using recommended tools. The evidence quality will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach and the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (CERQual) guidelines approach for quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively. The phenomena of interest will be the experience of meaning-centred intervention among older adults living in the community and long-term care facilities. The primary outcome will be loneliness. Other related outcomes include meanings in life, social connections, social participation, social isolation, suicide ideation, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

Discussion: The review will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of meaning-centred intervention on loneliness among community-dwelling older adults by integrating the quantitative and qualitative evidence. The findings will provide practitioners, researchers, and policy workers with insights on developing and/or adopting meaning-centred interventions for alleviating the loneliness of older adults in the community and eventually promoting healthy ageing.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD 42024614173.