Social isolation is a frequent experience among older adults, negatively impacting their mental health and quality of life. Findings from a previous feasibility study indicated that low-latency virtual group singing, particularly with latency under 30 ms, provided significant improvements in mood and social connectedness compared to traditional platforms like Zoom and higher latency sessions. Building on these results, the proposed study aims to evaluate the effects of a 10-week virtual group singing intervention for novice singers, comparing its psychosocial benefits to those of a virtual music discussion control group.

It is anticipated that participants in the virtual group singing intervention will demonstrate greater improvements in mood and social connectedness compared to the control group. Enhanced feelings of inclusion and social bonding are expected, supported by the analysis of endocrine and heart rate variability measures.

The proposed study seeks to establish the efficacy of low-latency virtual group singing as an effective modality for enhancing psychosocial well-being among older adults facing isolation. These findings may suggest applications for future research involving individuals with communication disorders.