Companion Robotic Pets and Older Adults

Effect of Companion Robotic Pets on Older Adult Well-Being

This research will assess the effect of companion robotic pets on the wellbeing of older adults and their family caregivers.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Dementia; Caregiver Burden; Social Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Hasbro Joy for All robot pet companion

Detailed Description

Social robot pets have been shown to have a positive impact on age-related physical, cognitive, emotional, and social challenges that affect independence and quality of life. These "pets" are designed to interact with people as a real pet might. They purr when stroked, make eye contact, have a heartbeat, turn toward a person when touched, are warm, and appear lifelike. Does introduction of such a pet reduce loneliness or promote engagement in older adults with cognitive or physical disability?

This research will determine if:

1. Older adults with disabilities engage with such robotic companions;
2. Placing a robotic pet in a home enhances mood and positive affect in older people;
3. Caregivers to these adults find the robots beneficial for their own mood and time use.

In a single-blind randomized controlled trial over 6-8 weeks, we hypothesize that older adults in the intervention arm will engage with the pets and show benefit in mood as reported by family caregivers.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 53
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15261
      • University of Pittsburgh

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participating in Family Caregiver Support Program or OPTIONS Program administered by Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging
2. Provide unpaid family or friend caregiver support for at least 6 months
3. Older person aged 50+
4. Able to provide verbal informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Uncomfortable with robot pet companion in home
2. Family Caregiver < 18 years age

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Treatment, Immediate Robot Pet Companion; Participants will receive a Hasbro Joy for All robotic pet. These are low cost (< $150), life-like cats and dogs that respond to human interaction by making sounds or turning their head for eye contact. The robot companion pets are designed as supports for older people with cognitive impairment. In this trial, the older person can treat it like a pet or ignore it. Family caregivers will report on engagement with the pet and effects on mood.	Behavioral: Hasbro Joy for All robot pet companion; The robot pets are stuffed animals (dogs and cats) that have features that make them seem lifelike. For example, the animal toys turn their heads when petted, purr or make puppy sounds, feel warm, have a heartbeat, and go to sleep when they are ignored. They respond to attention and petting like a real pet. The robot pets do not collect information and do not require any maintenance, except a battery. Engagement with the device is at the discretion of participants.
No Intervention: Control, Delayed Robot Pet Companion; During the 6-8 week trial, this group will not receive the robot pet companion but will complete baseline and follow-up assessments on teh same schedule as the treatment arm. Participants in this arm will receive the robot pet after the trial.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Positive Affect Scale from Baseline to 6-8 weeks	PROMIS Positive Affect Short Form 15a Scale: The PROMIS measures are normed for population probability samples, with raw scores transformed into T scores (mean 50, SD=10). The scale measures positive emotion (e.g., enjoyment, engagement, serenity).	Baseline and Follow-up, 6-8 weeks later
Change in Negative Affect from Baseline to 6-8 weeks	PROMIS Emotional Distress and Anger Short Form Scale: The PROMIS measures are normed for population probability samples, with raw scores transformed into T scores (mean = 50, SD=10). The scale measures emotional distress (e.g., irritability, anger).	Baseline and Follow-up, 6-8 weeks later

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Engagement with Pet	Adapted companion animal questionnaire, treatment arm. The scale measures daily involvement with a pet, such as the frequency of holding the animal, sleeping in the same room, feeling responsible for the animal). Scale scores range from 6-30.	Follow-up interview, 6-8 weeks after baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
• Collaborators: Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Steven M Albert, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 3, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 30, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): February 7, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Stress, Psychological; Caregiver Burden
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY23090076

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: All individual-level research data will be made available to qualified researchers who submit an analytic plan for IRB-approved research. Only de-identified data will be shared. Also, we will contact Pitt's Office of Sponsored Programs prior to sharing any data outside of the institution.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Following study completion for 12 months
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Email: smalbert@pitt.edu
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No