In recent decades, loneliness has become a particularly relevant social problem. The feelings caused by this emotion, in cases where it is unwanted, directly affect the psychological well-being of people and are related to a greater risk of isolation, a loss of quality of life, a reduction in health and even an increase in mortality. This context is even more aggravated in the case of the elderly, as they are a social group that is particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon.
A team of researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) has conducted a review of studies on the ability of voice assistants to reduce feelings caused by unwanted loneliness in older people. “The main objective of our work was to examine existing indicators on the impact of the use of voice assistants on loneliness in the elderly. We wanted to know if these devices can be an effective tool to address this growing problem in today's society,” says Elena Castro, a student on the UOC's PhD program in Health and Psychology and lead author of this review, along with Modesta Pousada and Eulàlia Hernández, professors in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, all of them researchers in the Behavioural Design Lab group at the UOC's eHealth Center.
It is estimated that in Spain alone there are around three million elderly people who suffer unwanted loneliness in some way, according to calculations by the Siempre Acompañados program of the “La Caixa” Foundation. In fact,unwanted loneliness is a growing social problem, especially in the face of an aging population, whose consequences go far beyond social aspects. Recent calculations by the ONCE Foundation put the cost of unwanted loneliness in Spain at more than 14 billion euros a year, which represents 1.17% of Spain's gross domestic product (GDP).
Voice assistants
Following the review, the experts found that 85 % of the papers analyzed concluded that the use of devices had contributed directly to the reduction of loneliness. “The use of commercial voice assistants in the daily lives of older people can play a positive role in their psychological well-being and contribute significantly to improving their mental health, by mitigating feelings of loneliness,” details Castro. Specifically, some of the participants in the studies defined voice assistants “as a friend or a companion”, and referred to them as “a human being”. This aspect is essential, as voice assistants not only provide a sense of social interaction, but can also offer perceptible emotional support, especially for those older adults who experience prolonged isolation.
Thus, even if the interaction is not physical,the simple fact of having a “presence” that responds and assists on a day-to-day basis can generate a meaningful emotional connection that can reduce the perception of loneliness and promote well-being. In addition, this type of interaction can alleviate the distress associated with isolation and improve the emotional stability of older people.
Thus, this technology can help older people feel more connected and less lonely. This is yet another example of how emerging technologies are positioning themselves as a support to be explored to facilitate social interaction and enhance the performance of certain types of tasks. Specifically, these devices can facilitate the management of daily life through reminders, provide quick and easy access to information and entertainment, and even make the person feel accompanied. “It's not about replacing human interaction, but about offering a solution in situations where these systems can improve quality of life,” explains the expert. However, there are still barriers to their implementation, such as unfamiliarity with the technology, resistance to change and distrust. “Added to this is the need to personalize the assistants to adapt to individual needs, as well as to improve their ability to hold complex conversations,” she adds.
For this reason, specific training and education of users are essential to enable them to use these types of devices effectively and incorporate them into their daily lives. Currently, about 11% of the Spanish population uses virtual voice assistants sometimes, as indicated by data provided by the Association for Media Research (AIMC). These figures are increasing year after year in Spanish households.
Risks of loneliness
Unwanted loneliness is a health problem, in some cases classified as a disorder, which has important consequences on the quality of life of those who suffer from it, especially in relation to mental and psychological health.
Thus, loneliness increases the risk of suffering and aggravating other diseases and pathologies, such as stress, anxiety, depression or sleep disorders. It can even hinder adherence to treatment for patients suffering from other diseases. “The World Health Organization already considers loneliness as a public health problem, and highlights its serious impact on the physical and mental health, quality of life and life expectancy of older adults. In addition, loneliness is associated with problems such as depression, anxiety and faster cognitive decline,” says the expert, who stresses the urgent need to address this problem.
Faced with this challenge, voice assistants offer a promising solution. Commercial models available to the general public not only make it easier to perform everyday tasks and provide reminders, but also offer entertainment and quick access to information, and allow communication with family and friends. All of these features can help reduce feelings of loneliness and improve quality of life for seniors.
“Voice assistants available on the market have significant potential to help reduce loneliness in older adults, provided they are accompanied by adequate training and accessibility to integrate the use of these technologies, adapt them to individual needs, and combat the distrust that new technologies generate in older people to maximize their effectiveness,” the authors conclude. However, further research is needed to enhance their benefits and analyze their potential risks, as well as the ethical considerations of using this type of technology to combat loneliness.
