Wired for companionship: a meta-analysis on social robots filling the void of loneliness in later life

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Loneliness is a significant public health concern affecting over a quarter of older adults worldwide. Emerging research suggests that artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled social robots may offer a viable alternative for providing a new form of social support and reducing loneliness. This meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness of AI-enabled social robots in reducing loneliness among older adults and examines the conditions under which these interventions are most effective. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted through October 2024. Effect sizes from 19 studies (N = 1,083) were synthesized using robust variance estimation (RVE) in meta-regression. Moderation analyses examined how social robots' effectiveness differs by contextual factors such as participants' backgrounds and studies' characteristics. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that social robots significantly reduced loneliness among older adults. However, studies with control groups indicate a higher effect size. Moreover, greater reductions in loneliness are observed among individuals in institutional settings compared to those living independently. In addition, stronger intervention effects reported in Japan and Turkey than in the United States. However, age, cognitive status, robot type, duration of intervention, and year of publication did not significantly influence intervention effectiveness. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings underscore the potential of social robots as an effective and scalable approach for addressing loneliness among older adults, particularly within institutional care environments. Policymakers, gerontologists, and care providers should consider integrating AI-enabled social robots into existing care frameworks, emphasizing culturally sensitive and inclusive implementation strategies.