Feeling lonely? Preferences for support programmes to reduce loneliness among older adults in Australia
A discrete choice experiment
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21467698 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mesfin G Genie (0000-0002-1744-4666, University of Newcastle Australia, corresponding author), Allison Boyes (0000-0003-1721-0533, Hunter Medical Research Institute), Francesco Paolucci (0000-0001-6173-5324, University of Newcastle Australia) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 167 |
| Pages | 105587 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0168-8510 • E-ISSN: 1872-6054 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105587 |
| PMID | 41764840 |
| OpenAlex | W7131114654 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 52 |
BACKGROUND: Loneliness in older adults contributes significantly to poor health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Despite the growing prevalence of loneliness, many available interventions remain underutilised. OBJECTIVES: To quantify older Australians' preferences for loneliness support programme features, their willingness to pay (WTP) for these features, and examine heterogeneity in preferences based on loneliness severity, socioeconomic, and mobility-related differences. METHODS: A discrete choice experiment was conducted among 250 adults aged 65 years and older. Participants completed eight choice tasks comparing hypothetical programmes characterised by six attributes. Preferences were analysed using an error-component logit model, and WTP was calculated. RESULTS: Respondents significantly preferred community engagement (WTP = AUD 14.47, p < 0.01) compared to peer support, whereas virtual reality was least preferred (WTP = -AUD 9.58, p = 0.009). Fully virtual programmes were significantly less preferred than in-person options (WTP = -AUD 11.69, p = 0.019), with hybrid methods slightly preferred over fully virtual (WTP = -AUD 7.95, p < 0.01). Weekly interactions were strongly preferred over daily (WTP = AUD 16.93, p < 0.01) and monthly sessions (WTP = AUD 9.21, p = 0.005). Longer sessions (2 hours: WTP = AUD 5.08, p = 0.059; 4 hours: WTP = AUD 5.85, p = 0.037) were preferred over 30-minute sessions, while programmes requiring significant travel (50+ km) or higher costs significantly decreased programme desirability. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest interventions to reduce loneliness among older adults should prioritise affordable, regular, locally accessible, and community-oriented programmes, tailored specifically according to socioeconomic and mobility-related differences
Feeling · Loneliness · Psychological intervention · Socioeconomic status · Economic and Environmental Valuation · Healthcare innovation and challenges · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
Older Adults Perceptions of Technology and Barriers to Interacting with Tablet Computers
Loneliness and social isolation interventions for older adults
Statistical Methods for the Analysis of Discrete Choice Experiments
Fitting Mixed Logit Models by Using Maximum Simulated Likelihood
An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness
Constructing Efficient Stated Choice Experimental Designs
Advancing the Aging and Technology Agenda in Gerontology
How well do discrete choice experiments predict health choices? A systematic review and meta-analysis of external validity
Loneliness as a predictor of suicidal ideation and behaviour
Prevalence of loneliness and social isolation among older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic
Loneliness and Risk of Alzheimer Disease
A Review of Social Isolation
Vulnerable People, Groups, And Populations
A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness
The prevalence of loneliness across 113 countries
The De Jong Gierveld short scales for emotional and social loneliness
Sample Size Requirements for Discrete-Choice Experiments in Healthcare
Loneliness and the health of older people
Loneliness Matters
Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality
Sample size requirements for stated choice experiments
Exploring community engagement in place-based approaches in areas of poor health and disadvantage
Interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people
Family Rejection, Social Isolation, and Loneliness as Predictors of Negative Health Outcomes (Depression, Suicidal Ideation, and Sexual Risk Behavior) Among Thai Male-to-Female Transgender Adolescents
The prevalence of and risk factors for loneliness among older people in China
The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life
Loneliness
A New Approach to Consumer Theory
Entropy Balancing for Causal Effects
Alone in the crowd
No Substitute for In-Person Interaction
| Highly cited | No |
|---|