Voice assistants' influence on loneliness in older adults: a systematic review.

Purpose: This review aims to examine how the use of voice assistants influences loneliness in older adults. Materials and methods: This study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases such as CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, W...

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Publicado en:Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 521 - 536
Autores principales: Castro Martínez, Elena, Hernández Encuentra, Eulàlia, Pousada Fernández, Modesta
Formato: research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Apr2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Apr2025
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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        10.1080/17483107.2024.2397030
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        atl: Voice assistants' influence on loneliness in older adults: a systematic review.
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        au:
          Castro Martínez, Elena
          Hernández Encuentra, Eulàlia
          Pousada Fernández, Modesta
        affil: Researcher in Health Psychology and Technology, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
      sug:
        subj:
          Loneliness In Old Age
          Voice Recognition Systems
          Assistive Technology Devices
          Artificial Intelligence
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Systematic Review
          CINAHL Database
          Psycinfo
          Medline
          PubMed
          Checklists
          Adaptation, Psychological
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: Purpose: This review aims to examine how the use of voice assistants influences loneliness in older adults. Materials and methods: This study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases such as CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciELO, Google Scholar, and IEEE Xplore were used. We implemented search strategies in English to locate studies published between January 2010 and January 2023, including those examining the impact of voice assistant usage on loneliness in older adults. Descriptive information was examined, assessing its quality with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: A total of 499 studies were yielded from the initial search, with 13 included in the final analysis. Positive outcomes in reducing loneliness were reported in 84.6% of these studies. There was a prevalence of quasi-experimental studies, alongside heterogeneous measurement instruments, scarce use of standardized tests, and small samples predominantly consisting of women. Commercial voice assistants were the most commonly utilized. Conclusions: Voice assistants show potential in mitigating feelings of loneliness in older adults. Adequate training and adaptation to specific needs seem essential to maximize their effectiveness. In particular, voice assistants available in the consumer market hold significant potential in this area. Further research is necessary to comprehend their impact, encompassing potential risks and ethical considerations. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Effectively integrating voice assistants into day-to-day lives of older people can have a positive role on their psychological well-being and significantly contribute to improving their mental health by mitigating feelings of loneliness. Interventions incorporating voice assistants should focus on adapting to the specific needs of each individual. Adequate training and understanding needs are essential elements to maximize the effectiveness of these interventions. Given that most of the reviewed studies present small samples with a predominance of female participants, future initiatives should ensure that these interventions are equitable and beneficial for all demographic groups. Further research should focus on understanding and improving the accessibility of commercial voice assistants targeted at the general population. This involves ensuring that these technologies are easily adoptable by older adults through specific training and outreach strategies, which is especially important in the context of rehabilitation.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        systematic review
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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