Engage Coaching (R33 Phase)

Engage Coaching to Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness to Prevent Suicide in Later Life

The purpose of this study is to test whether an individual coaching program helps adults age 60 and older feel more connected to other people in ways that matter to them.

The R33 phase is an RCT (S-ENG+eCAU vs. eCAU only; n=120) with follow-up at 8- and 16 weeks to test target engagement and clinical impact. 10 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) will be completed at all assessment points. Participants are 120 adults age 60 and older who report clinically significant loneliness and have access to social activities outside the home. EMA will comprehensively assess indices of social connection. Subjects will complete EMA daily following 3 personally-selected times for prompts (to enhance recall and ease of completion of assessments) for 10-days prior to starting study interventions, beginning the day after the baseline visit. Each EMA instance takes approximately 2-5 minutes to complete. Subjects who successfully complete the smartphone assessment protocol at baseline will be randomly assigned to coaching or waitlist control. Study conditions are Engage Coaching (10 individual coaching sessions) over (up to) 4 month or waitlist control (assessments only for 4 months and then coaching is offered). The follow-up assessments include baseline measures and EMA.

Inclusion criteria:

• Age 60 or older
• Access to social activities outside the home, including through living in senior living communities
• Clinically-significant loneliness over the prior month.

Exclusion criteria:

• Current problem drinking
• Psychosis
• Significant cognitive impairment
• Hearing problems that preclude engagement with S-ENG and research assessors.