Stay Connected: Testing an Intervention to Combat Coronavirus-related Social Isolation Among Older Adults

The PHQ-9 consists of 9 depression items and one disability item. Each item is associated with a symptom of depression, which the participant rates whether or not they have experienced the symptom over the last two weeks, with severity rating of 0-3. It is one of the few measures that is brief (it takes less than one minute to give) and has been found to have excellent sensitivity to change over time. Older adult participants will complete this measure. Total score ranges from 0 - 27 and higher scores indicate higher levels of depression symptoms.

To assess for co-occurring anxiety, we will use the GAD-7, a 7- item screener for generalized anxiety. It consists of items related to GAD. Participants rate on a scale of 0-3 how much they have experienced in the last two weeks. The scale is a valid screener for GAD. Older adult participants will complete this measure. Total score ranges from 0 - 21, with higher scores mean an increased degree of severity of anxiety symptoms.

The SDS will be used as measure of disability/functional status. This is a brief analog disability scale, which uses visual-spatial, numeric and verbal anchors. The scale has been validated in medical and psychiatric populations with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. Older adult participants will complete this measure. Total score ranges from 0 - 30, with higher scores indicating greater disruptions to their life from mental health symptoms.

A 3-item scale designed to measure one's subjective feelings of loneliness as well as feelings of social isolation. Participants rate each item as either O ("I often feel this way"), S ("I sometimes feel this way"), R ("I rarely feel this way"), N ("I never feel this way"). Older adult participants will complete this measure. Total scores range from 3 - 9, with higher scores indicating higher levels of loneliness.

The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) can be used to track changes weekly in the behaviors hypothesized to underlie depression and specifically targeted for change by behavioral activation. It examines changes in the following areas: activation, avoidance/rumination, work/school impairment, and social impairment. The BADS consists of 25 questions, each rated on a seven-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 6 (completely). Older adult participants will complete this measure. Total scores range from 0 - 150, with higher scores indicating more behavioral activation.

The PROMIS Social Isolation item bank assesses perceptions of being avoided, excluded, detached, disconnected from, or unknown by, others. This measure consists of 4 items, each rated on a five-point scale ranging from 1 - 5. Older adult participants will complete this measure. Total scores range from 4 - 20, with higher scores meaning more social isolation.

This is a four item measure of intervention acceptability, where each item is rated on a 1-5 scale, with 1 = not at all acceptable and 5 = very acceptable, and the total score is a mean item score with minimum score of 1 and maximum of 5. Clinician participants complete this measure. Higher values are considered to be more positive (i.e., a more acceptable intervention).

This is a ten item measure of how easy the intervention/system is to use and learn. Used for interventions (e.g., therapeutic modalities). Total scale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores considered to be more positive (i.e., a more usable intervention). Scores of 70 and higher are considered to be a usable intervention. Clinician participants complete this measure.

This is a four item measure of how suitable an intervention is for the circumstances, where each item is rated on a 1-5 scale, with 1 = not at all appropriate and 5 = very appropriate, and the total score is a mean item score with minimum score of 1 and maximum of 5. Clinician participants complete this measure. Higher values are considered to be more positive (i.e., a more appropriate intervention).