50 +

Developing a group singing intervention for promoting psychosocial wellbeing among older people living with HIV
Investigators: Judy You Rong Tan   

Loneliness and social isolation are common among older adults, including those who are living with HIV. Preliminary research and emergent evidence show that older PLWH desire social connections with other older PLWH that do not require disclosure of HIV-status and that help them regain a sense of control and purpose in living a fulfilling life with HIV.

This community choir intervention, with input from a community advisory council (CAC) of key stakeholders, aims to improve psychosocial wellbeing among older PLWH by enhancing group pride and personal control. This research partnership will adapt the COV intervention, modifying and refining COV’s intervention protocols and procedures, ensuring  integration of CAC's feedback into a final version of the UV manual and training procedures, which will be piloted to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of implementation and assessment procedures and protocols, including randomization procedures. A final full-scale trial will provide foundational information on the first community choir intervention for addressing unmet social and psychological needs among a growing and underserved population and will inform future research.