title: Effect of a social intervention of choice vs. control on depressive symptoms, melancholy, feeling of loneliness, and perceived togetherness in older Finnish people: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined effects of a social intervention on depressive symptoms, melancholy, loneliness, and perceived togetherness in community-dwelling Finnish older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Promotion of mental well-being in older people (GoodMood; ISRCTN78426775) was a single-blinded randomized control trial lasting 1.5 years. Two hundred and twenty-three persons aged 75-79 years reporting symptoms of loneliness or melancholy were randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group was allowed to choose among supervised exercise, social activity, or personal counseling. Follow-up measurements were conducted at the end of 6-month intervention, and at 3, 6, and 12 months post intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Number of depressive symptoms remained unchanged, while loneliness and melancholy decreased in both the intervention and control groups during the study (p < 0.001). Social integration increased in the intervention group but not in controls (p = 0.041). Attachment and guidance increased in both groups (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention did not alleviate depressed mood. Positive changes over time were observed in loneliness, feelings of melancholy, attachment, and guidance but these occurred independently of the intervention. Our secondary analysis suggests that the intervention increased perceived social integration. In sum, the effects of the intervention were moderate only and did not expedite further overcoming depressive mood or loneliness.
authors.affiliation: a Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pynnönen
authors.affiliation: a Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Törmäkangas
authors.affiliation: a Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantanen
authors.affiliation: b School of Health and Social Studies, JAMK University of Applied Sciences , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tiikkainen
authors.affiliation: c Department of Medical Rehabilitation , Oulu University Hospital , Oulu , Finland.|d Center for Life Course Epidemiology Research , Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu , Oulu , Finland.
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallinen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D016037:Single-Blind Method
keywords: Depressive symptoms; RCT; older people; oneliness; social integration