Loneliness
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Intervention Group (IG): Participants in the intervention group will receive immediate access to the avatar-guided StudiCare-Belonging online training, which includes optional buddy support,
however, completing approximately 80% of the 15 modules is recommended, with a suggested pace of 2 modules per week for 8 weeks (until T2). Additionally, participants have unrestricted access to treat
however, completing approximately 80% of the 15 modules is recommended, with a suggested pace of two modules per week for 8 weeks (T4). Participants in the waitlist group will likewise have unrestrict
Sponsors
Abteilung für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, Institut für Psychologie und Pädagogik, Universität Ulm
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Participants must meet the following eligibility criteria: • Elevated loneliness score on the UCLA 3-Item Scale (UCLA-3 > 6) • Enrolment at a university or university of applied sciences • Adequate command of the German language • No ongoing psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatment at the time of study inclusion • Access to the internet and owning a smartphone, tablet, notebook, or computer • Provide informed consent to participate in the study
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Not meeting the inclusion criteria or lacking the necessary cognitive and/or attentional abilities to participate in the online intervention and assessments
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Loneliness (UCLA-20; 20 Item UCLA Loneliness Scale; T0-T4) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Feasibility: •Sociodemographic Data, Adherence & Dropout rates (T0) •Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSF-I; IG: T2/ WL:T4) •Working Alliance Inventory (WAI-I; IG: T2/ WL:T4) •Acceptance of Artificial Intelligence (ATAI; T0 & IG: T2/ WL:T4) •Uncanny Valley Effect (UVE; IG: T0 & T2/ WL:T4) •Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ; IG: T2/ WL:T4) Potential Effectiveness: •Social Connectedness Scale (SCS; T0-T4) •Self-esteem (R-SES; T0-T4) •Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4; T0-T4) •Depression (PHQ-8; T0-T4) •Anxiety (GAD-7; T0-T4) Potential Mediators and Moderators: •Personality (BFI-10; T0) •Need to Belong Scale (NTBS; T0-T4) •Brief Resilience Scale (BRS; T0-T4) Measurement Points: T0: Baseline T1: 4 weeks after randomization (IG: interim assessment) T2: 8 weeks after randomization (IG: post-assessment) T3: 12 weeks after randomization (IG: follow-up / WL: interim assessment) T4: 16 weeks after randomization (IG: follow-up / WL: post-assessment) | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactAyca Ilgaz
Abteilung für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, Institut für Psychologie und Pädagogik, Universität Ulm
Outcome results
None listed