“Telephone Angels” Against Loneliness: Experimental Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Telephone Partnerships with Older Adults

Abstract

Loneliness affects many older adults.As part of the ”Telephone Angel” project, telephone partnerships between volunteers and older adults affected by loneliness were designed to counteract experiencing loneliness. Volunteers (100 ≤ N ≤ 114) and older adults who are (22 ≤ N ≤ 45) and who are not (25 ≤ N ≤ 71) part of the project were surveyed twice. Concerning loneliness, telephone partnerships increased the sense of community (d =.38). Older adults' life satisfaction increased (d =.46) as well. Stigmatization increased between the survey periods for those inside and outside the project (.21 ≤ d ≤.35).