Associations Between Older Adults' Loneliness and Acceptance of Socially Assistive Robots: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The use of socially assistive robots (SARs) to enable older adults (aged ≥65 years) to live independently for as long as possible has been researched for several years. Of particular interest is the way SARs can combat loneliness. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 61 older adults in living facilities in Berlin, Germany. Paper-based questionnaires were used to elicit experiences of loneliness and determine the level of acceptance of SARs. Mean score (39.3) of the loneliness scale was in the average range for this population. Mean score (56.1) of acceptance of SARs was on a moderate level. Regression analyses showed that loneliness did not influence the acceptance of SARs by older adults in the sample, which was contrary to findings in the literature. Further studies might generate more accurate data and accelerate the development of robots to make them more attractive for social purposes. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49 (4), 21–26.]