Board-Game-Based Interventions and Loneliness-Related Outcomes in Older Adults: A Scoping Review
Keywords:
board games, loneliness, older adults, social connection, scoping reviewAbstract
Loneliness in older adults is an increasingly important public health concern because of its association with poorer psychological well-being, cognitive functioning, and social participation. Board-game-based interventions have attracted growing attention as structured social approaches, yet the available evidence remains fragmented and has not been clearly mapped. This scoping review aimed to map the characteristics, implementation contexts, delivery formats, and reported outcomes of board-game-based interventions relevant to loneliness in older adults. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and was reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. Searches were conducted across six databases, namely PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and ProQuest, for studies published between 2020 and 2025. A total of 62 records were identified, screened through title/abstract and full-text review, and 6 studies met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were conducted across diverse countries and involved strategic games, collaborative storytelling games, reminiscence-based games, traditional games, and one hybrid format. Four studies reported direct reductions in loneliness, while the remaining studies described improvements in outcomes related to social connection, including communication, social inclusion, interpersonal relationships, and mental well-being. Although the findings suggest promising potential, the evidence base remains small and heterogeneous.
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