Voice-Activated Technology Intervention and Well-Being in Older Adults Living Alone: A Meta-Analysis
Other Titles
Voice-Activated Technology Interventions and Well-Being in Older Adults Living Alone A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [Title Slide]
Abstract
Older adults living alone are particularly vulnerable to declines in their physical, psychological, and social well-being (1). Voice-activated technology (VAT) has emerged as a promising approach to enhance accessibility, social connectedness, and independent living among older adults. This holds significant potential for nurses to optimize care delivery systems and support the overall well-being of older adults (2). However, evidence on its impact on multidimensional well-being, particularly for those living alone, remains limited. (3, 4). Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of VAT interventions on the multidimensional well-being of older adults living alone.
A meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched English and Korean databases for randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies evaluating VAT interventions for older adults living alone. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists (5, 6). Pooled effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with Hedges’ g test. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate potential moderators influencing intervention outcomes.
A total of 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that VAT interventions significantly improved physical (SMD = 0.35) and psychological well-being (SMD = 0.41). Specifically, VAT interventions enhanced the quality of life (SMD = 0.27) and reduced loneliness (SMD = 0.31), with moderate heterogeneity observed in depression (SMD = 0.36; I-squared = 69.4%). Only one study reported increased social support. Subgroup differences were non-significant, however, interventions of shorter durations tended to produce larger effects.
This study highlights the potential of VAT to promote healthy aging among older adults living alone. The findings suggest that nurses, as key health professionals, should actively leverage VAT to develop and implement interventions that enhance the physical, psychological, and social well-being of people living alone. Nurses can integrate VAT into individualized care plans to foster independence and social connectedness, thereby ensuring the sustained use of these technologies. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for nursing advocacy in policy development and long-term planning to support the broader adoption and effective use of VAT for improving the well-being of older adults living alone.
Notes
References:
1. Nakou A, Dragioti E, Bastas NS, Zagorianakou N, Kakaidi V, Tsartsalis D, et al. Loneliness, social isolation, and living alone: a comprehensive systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of mortality risks in older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2025;37:29. doi: 10.1007/s40520-024-02925-1.
2. Gulliford M, Alageel S. Digital health intervention at older ages. Lancet Digit Health. 2019;1(8):e382–e383. doi: 10.1016/S2589-7500(19)30194-3.
3. Castro Martínez E, Hernández Encuentra E, Pousada Fernández M. Voice assistants' influence on loneliness in older adults: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2025;20(3):521–535. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2024.2397030.
4. Haupeltshofer A, Egerer V, Seeling S. Promoting health literacy: what potential does nursing informatics offer to support older adults in the use of technology? A scoping review. Health Inform J. 2020;26(4):2707–2721. doi: 10.1177/1460458220933417.
5. Barker TH, Stone JC, Sears K, et al. The revised JBI critical appraisal tool for the assessment of risk of bias for randomized controlled trials. JBI Evid Synth. 2023;21(3):494–506. doi: 10.11124/JBIES-22-00430.
6. Barker TH, Habibi N, Aromataris E, et al. The revised JBI critical appraisal tool for the assessment of risk of bias for quasi-experimental studies. JBI Evid Synth. 2024;22(3):378–388. doi: 10.11124/JBIES-23-00268.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Meta-Analysis/Synthesis
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Sustainable Development Goals, Voice Recognition Systems, Voice-Activated Technology, Aged, Older Adults, Community Living
Recommended Citation
Park, Yu Shin; Hong, Dahye; Park, Min Kyung; Park, Sikyeong; Jeong, Suyeon; Lee, Dayoung; Kim, Minsub; Kim, Seojin; and Kang, Bada, "Voice-Activated Technology Intervention and Well-Being in Older Adults Living Alone: A Meta-Analysis" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 37.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/37
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-23
Voice-Activated Technology Intervention and Well-Being in Older Adults Living Alone: A Meta-Analysis
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Older adults living alone are particularly vulnerable to declines in their physical, psychological, and social well-being (1). Voice-activated technology (VAT) has emerged as a promising approach to enhance accessibility, social connectedness, and independent living among older adults. This holds significant potential for nurses to optimize care delivery systems and support the overall well-being of older adults (2). However, evidence on its impact on multidimensional well-being, particularly for those living alone, remains limited. (3, 4). Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of VAT interventions on the multidimensional well-being of older adults living alone.
A meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched English and Korean databases for randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies evaluating VAT interventions for older adults living alone. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists (5, 6). Pooled effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with Hedges’ g test. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate potential moderators influencing intervention outcomes.
A total of 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that VAT interventions significantly improved physical (SMD = 0.35) and psychological well-being (SMD = 0.41). Specifically, VAT interventions enhanced the quality of life (SMD = 0.27) and reduced loneliness (SMD = 0.31), with moderate heterogeneity observed in depression (SMD = 0.36; I-squared = 69.4%). Only one study reported increased social support. Subgroup differences were non-significant, however, interventions of shorter durations tended to produce larger effects.
This study highlights the potential of VAT to promote healthy aging among older adults living alone. The findings suggest that nurses, as key health professionals, should actively leverage VAT to develop and implement interventions that enhance the physical, psychological, and social well-being of people living alone. Nurses can integrate VAT into individualized care plans to foster independence and social connectedness, thereby ensuring the sustained use of these technologies. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for nursing advocacy in policy development and long-term planning to support the broader adoption and effective use of VAT for improving the well-being of older adults living alone.
Description
Older adults living alone are particularly vulnerable to declines in their physical, psychological, and social well-being. This meta-analysis of 13 studies demonstrated that VAT interventions significantly improved physical (SMD = 0.35) and psychological well-being (SMD = 0.41). VAT interventions showed strong potential to promote accessibility, social connectedness, and independence, highlighting their role in supporting healthy aging and optimizing nursing care for older adults living alone.