Abstract
BACKGROUND: Social networks play a critical role in the mental health of older adults. This pilot study investigates the feasibility of a newly developed intervention to enhance older adults' social networks. This intervention was designed on the Theory of Mind's foundation and aimed to enhance older adults' social interaction motivation through theoretical explanations. Furthermore, the courses fostered more social opportunities for the participants through group-based sessions. METHODS: The feasibility of this intervention was tested using a double-blind, two-arm, non-randomized grouping approach. Older individuals residing in two separate residential buildings (n = 31, mean age = 66.81, 48% women) were divided into an intervention group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 16). They attended daily group sessions at a designated location and completed homework assignments. The primary outcomes of this pilot study were the feasibility of the intervention, and secondary outcomes included Theory of Mind levels and social network indicators. Additional outcomes encompassed levels of global mental health and depression. RESULTS: All participants completed the pilot intervention and completed assessments. The primary outcomes indicated that the intervention had excellent feasibility, including compliance (attendance and homework completion rates met the standards) and satisfaction (average ratings for all items ranged from 4.47 to 5.00 on a 5-point scale). Interview results revealed that participants in the intervention group found the intervention beneficial for their daily lives and expressed a desire to participate in a formal intervention. Regarding secondary and additional outcomes, compared to the control group, the intervention group exhibited a significant improvement in emotional recognition performance of Theory of Mind. There was a significant increase in the whole network density in the intervention group. There were no significant differences in other social network indicators, global mental health, and depression levels in the intervention group compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The social network enhancement intervention for older adults is feasible. This pilot study has identified several improvements in the courses and tests. It is necessary to carry out a formal course to examine the effectiveness of the intervention on social networks in older adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number: ChiCTR2100053779; Reg Date: 29/11/2021.