Social support interventions for life satisfaction of older adults in long-term care: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Older adults residing in long-term care homes often experience isolation, resulting in increased feelings of vulnerability, reduced quality of life, and poorer health outcomes. Social support interventions may serve to mitigate or improve these outcomes; however, the effectiveness of such interventions on life satisfaction has not been formally compared in a systematic review. This systematic review aims to assess the comparative effectiveness of social support-based interventions for adults 65 years and older living in long-term care homes on life satisfaction. A systematic literature review was conducted in Ovid EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL from database inception through November 23, 2025. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to be comparative and report on the outcome of life satisfaction. Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts, and full-text records independently and in duplicate. Reviewers assessed study limitations using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 instrument. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Of 13,004 records identified, fourteen studies met the eligibility criteria for this review. Social support interventions reported in the literature include life reminiscence program, intergenerational program, music intervention, general support, mentorship program and group activities. Life satisfaction was reported using Life Satisfaction Index (LISA), Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), Quality of Life Index (QLI), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), PGC Morale Scale, and Satisfaction with life in the home. Evidence of support intervention effectiveness on life satisfaction was found to be moderate in both randomized (SMD = 0.79 [95% CI, -0.66 to 2.25]) and non-randomized studies (SMD = 0.55 [95% CI, 0.01 to 1.08]) due to concerns with risk of bias and imprecision. This review demonstrates that social support interventions may improve life satisfaction in adults 65 years and older. However, further analysis and research should be conducted.