Leader: Daniela Villani (Unicatt); Other collaborator(s):
This task aims at developing personalized advanced self-care technologies (e.g., online interventions, mobile applications, VR experiences) by using a participatory design approach to improve older adults’ QoL and healthy behaviors. Positive technologies will contribute to three features of older adults’ personal experience, such as 1) positive emotions and subjective well-being (e.g. through mindfulness and savoring approaches), 2) self-actualization and psychological well-being (e.g. through meaningful challenging activities characterized by deep involvement and absorption and supporting optimal daily functioning), and 3) social connectedness (through synchronous and asynchronous communication with family, friends and the community).
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
The repeated measures study has been approved by the local Ethics Committee. We have issued a call for recruiting agencies to recruit the proper sample. Three agencies have responded to this call, and the selection is proceeding. As soon as the selection process terminates, the approved protocol will be applied, and data will be collected. This activity shares common methods across tasks 6.1, 6.2, and 6.4. The intervention study, dealing with the use of technology in the context of savoring for older adults, will soon be submitted to the local Ethics Committee. Most key personnel have been recruited, including a senior and a junior postdoc. A junior researcher will be recruited to facilitate the implementation of the intervention study.
The data from the first survey have been collected, specifically focusing on the analysis of the use of technological devices by the elderly and their intention to participate in online interventions for promoting well-being. These data will be analyzed jointly with those from the second survey to explore the existence of profiles that integrate other dimensions of psychological well-being and perceived health. Digital content related to the enhancement of positive emotions and savoring has been developed and will be implemented on the online platform by the end of the year. Simultaneously, documentation has been prepared for the ethical review request to the Commissione Etica per la Ricerca in Psicologia (CERPS), which has yielded a positive outcome. The design phase of the platform has also been initiated, and initial contacts have been established with local entities to promote the dissemination of the study and the voluntary recruitment of participants. Data collection will commence at the beginning of 2025.