***** This is an updated preregistration from https://osf.io/yacjz. The updates include: 1) that the team agreed on SOP for exclusions before looking at any data, 2) description of one of the dependent measure that was previously missing is added (loneliness), and 3) license information ***** The COVID-19 pandemic is posing a direct threat to the health of millions across the globe. In particular, elderly population faces the highest risk of severe illness and mortality from COVID-19, such that 8 out of 10 deaths caused by COVID-19 in the U.S. have been in adults 65 years old and older (CDC.gov). Avoiding close contact with others by putting physical distance between people, or “social distancing,” has been considered one of the most effective strategies to slow the spread of coronavirus and is strongly recommended and/or enforced by many nations across the world. While social distancing is critical to stay safe during pandemic, it can also increase risks associated with social isolation and loneliness, especially for older adults who are already vulnerable due to various conditions that prevent them from maintaining close social contacts. In the U.S., for example, older compared to younger adults are more likely to live alone (1) with reduced mobility, and their social circles tend to be smaller due to loss of friends and family (2). Further, they tend to suffer more from social isolation (3) compared to younger counterparts, with often fewer resources to carry out daily activities independently and cope with feelings of loneliness. Feelings of loneliness might also motivate older adults to downplay the importance of social distancing and venture out of their homes to social gatherings, which may expose them to greater dangers of infection during pandemic. Therefore, testing effective psychological interventions that may increase the likelihood for older adults of maintaining social distance while not increasing loneliness is critical. This way, vulnerable older populations are protected from direct threats of infectious disease as well as indirect threats of loneliness and social isolation that may result from measures taken to prevent the spread of virus. Having a strong sense of purpose in life, or a set of goals derived from an individual’s core values, has been consistently associated with a wide range of positive health outcomes. Having a higher sense of purpose in life is uniquely associated with increased longevity (4), reduced risk of age-related conditions such as heart diseases (5) and cognitive impairment (6), and healthier lifestyles that are key to wellbeing in old age, including physical activity (7) and the use of preventative health services (8). Importantly, purpose may decrease loneliness and promote receptivity to health messaging. Higher purpose has been associated with less perceived loneliness among older adults (9), though less is known about the causal link. Further, our previous work suggests that purpose in life may increase receptivity to health messages, such that individuals with greater sense of purpose in life showed lower conflict-related neural responses while exposed to health messages, which then predicted the likelihood of them agreeing with the self-relevant health messages (10). Together, evidence suggests that increasing purpose might be an effective strategy to shield older adults from the virus as well as loneliness during times of global pandemic. The proposed study will test the effects of purpose in life on loneliness and receptivity to COVID-19 messages in older adults. Study 1 will test the links among individual differences in purpose in life, perceived loneliness, and COVID-19 related responses (i.e., intentions, norms, and beliefs). Study 2, which will be amended to this preregistration after initial rounds of pilot will causally manipulate purpose in life by reminding people of values shared across their social group and test its effects on perceived loneliness and responses to COVID-19 related measures. Age will be tested as a moderator in both studies.