TY - JOUR
T1 - Engage! A pilot study of a brief behavioural activation program to promote engagement and well-being in older adults
AU - Ure, Sarah L
AU - Gill, Christopher
AU - Evans, Teal
AU - Windsor, Timothy D
AU - Scott, Julia E T
AU - Walker, Ruth
AU - Luszcz, Mary A
AU - Mazzucchelli, Trevor G
PY - 2024/6/25
Y1 - 2024/6/25
N2 - Previous research has indicated the suitability of behavioural activation (BA) as an intervention for reducing depression in older adults. However, little research has investigated the potential of BA to increase active engagement and well-being in older adults. The current pilot study sought to investigate the usefulness and acceptability of BA to promote wellbeing in a group of non-clinical older adults. Participants (N = 18) aged between 65 and 86 (M = 77.82, SD = 5.59) who were retired and living independently in the community were provided a 6-week BA program predominantly delivered online. Treatment retention, self-ratings, and participants’ compliance to treatment principles indicate preliminary feasibility for the use of BA as an approach for increasing active engagement in older adult populations. Participants also provided feedback on their experiences with the program post-intervention via individual structured interviews. Thematic analysis of these data revealed that participants found the program to be beneficial in terms of increased self-awareness and social engagement, and provided several recommendations for improving acceptability of the program and workbook. The unexpected events relating to the first wave of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) led to necessary adaptations to delivery modalities, and provided the researchers with an opportunity to investigate the use of a structured well-being program on a high-risk population during a pandemic. Our findings support the proposition that BA is a suitable intervention for increasing engagement and well-being in older adults, provide insight into adapting programs for older adults, and suggest next steps for testing intervention efficacy.
AB - Previous research has indicated the suitability of behavioural activation (BA) as an intervention for reducing depression in older adults. However, little research has investigated the potential of BA to increase active engagement and well-being in older adults. The current pilot study sought to investigate the usefulness and acceptability of BA to promote wellbeing in a group of non-clinical older adults. Participants (N = 18) aged between 65 and 86 (M = 77.82, SD = 5.59) who were retired and living independently in the community were provided a 6-week BA program predominantly delivered online. Treatment retention, self-ratings, and participants’ compliance to treatment principles indicate preliminary feasibility for the use of BA as an approach for increasing active engagement in older adult populations. Participants also provided feedback on their experiences with the program post-intervention via individual structured interviews. Thematic analysis of these data revealed that participants found the program to be beneficial in terms of increased self-awareness and social engagement, and provided several recommendations for improving acceptability of the program and workbook. The unexpected events relating to the first wave of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) led to necessary adaptations to delivery modalities, and provided the researchers with an opportunity to investigate the use of a structured well-being program on a high-risk population during a pandemic. Our findings support the proposition that BA is a suitable intervention for increasing engagement and well-being in older adults, provide insight into adapting programs for older adults, and suggest next steps for testing intervention efficacy.
KW - Behavioural activation
KW - Older people
KW - Depression
KW - Interventions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85196966375&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/LP170100461
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0305908
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0305908
M3 - Article
C2 - 38917213
AN - SCOPUS:85196966375
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 19
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
IS - 6
M1 - e0305908
ER -