Loneliness
Conditions
Keywords
internet-based self-help, loneliness
Brief summary
In this study, people who suffer from loneliness will be randomized to three study conditions. The first and second group get an account to an internet-based self-help intervention. The first group also receives weekly feedback from a coach and the second group receives an automated email on a weekly basis. The third group is a waiting control group. In all three conditions additional care or treatment is allowed. The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of an internet-based self-help intervention to reduce feelings of loneliness compared to a waiting list and the effect of support during the intervention. Assessments are at baseline, 5-week, 10-week, 6-months and 12-months post-randomization. Participants in the waiting control group get also access to the intervention and fill out questionnaires at baseline, 5-week and 10-week post-randomization and get also access to the intervention 10 weeks after randomization.
Interventions
OTHERSOLUS-D + weekly feedback by a coach
internet-based self-help
OTHERSOLUS-D + weekly automated messages
internet-based self-help
Sponsors
Swiss National Science Foundation
University of Bern
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Sumscore ≥ 18 on the UCLA Loneliness Scale * Signed Informed Consent * Contact information provided in case of emergency * Internet connection and device to use it (Smartphone, Computer, Tablet) * Fluent in german language
Exclusion criteria
* Acute suicidality * A current diagnose of substance dependence, a current or previous diagnose of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder * A current diagnosis of severe depression (PHQ-9 \> 14)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Loneliness | 10-week | Measured with the UCLA Loneliness Scale, 9-Item Version (UCLA-9). Total score ranging from 1-4 (representing the mean score of all 9 items). Lower scores represent less loneliness and a more favourable outcome. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Interview for Mental Disorders, short-version (Mini-DIPS) | Baseline, 6-months | — |
| Depressive Symptoms | Baseline, 5-week, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Total score ranging from 0-27 (representing the sum of each of the 9 individual items). Clinical cut-offs for mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe major depressive disorder are considered to be 5, 10, 15, and 20 points. |
| Satisfaction with Life | Baseline, 5-week, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Total score ranging from 1-7 (representing the mean score of all 5 items). Higher scores indicate higher satisfaction with life. |
| Misanthropy | Baseline, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the subscale Misanthropy of the Embitterment Scale (BVI). Total score ranging from 0-4 (representing the mean score of all 5 items). Higher scores indicate a higher degree in misanthropy. |
| Self-Stigma in Loneliness | Baseline, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Self-Stigma in Loneliness Questionnaire. Total score ranging from 1-5 (representing the mean score of all 6 items). Higher scores indicate higher self-stigma. |
| Social Interaction Anxiety | Baseline, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, 6-Item Version (SIAS-6). Total score ranging from 0-5 (representing the mean score of all 6 items) Higher scores indicate higher social interaction anxiety. |
| Social Phobia | Baseline, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Social Phobia Scale, 6-Item Version (SPS-6). Total score ranging from 0-5 (representing the mean score of all 6 items). Higher scores indicate higher social phobia. |
| Self-Compassion | Baseline, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Sussex Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S). Total score ranging from 1-5 (representing the mean score of all 20 items). Higher scores indicate higher self-compassion. |
| Social Network | Baseline, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Social Network Index (SNI). Network Diversity ranging from 1-8 (representing the number of social roles in which the respondent has regular contact with at least one person). Higher scores indicate a more diverse social network. Number of people in Social Network ranging from 0 to infinity. Higher scores indicate a larger social network. |
| Interpretation and Judgmental Bias | Baseline, 5-week, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Interpretation and Judgmental Questionnaire (IJQ). The interpretation score ranges from 1-4 (representing the chosen likelihood of the profoundly negative alternative). Higher scores indicate more negatively biased processing. |
| Rejection Sensitivity | Baseline, 5-week, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (A-RSQ). Total score ranging from 1-36 (representing the mean score of the multiplication of the subscales of all 9 items). Higher scores indicate higher rejection sensitivity. |
| Behavioral-social Avoidance | Baseline, 5-week, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the behavioral-social avoidance-subscale of the Cognitive-Behavioral Avoidance Scale (CBAS). Total score ranging from 1-5 (representing the mean score of all 8 items). Higher scores indicate higher behavioral-social avoidance. |
| Distress Disclosure | Baseline, 5-week, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Distress Disclosure Index (DDI). Total score ranging from 1-5 (representing the mean score of all 12 items). Higher scores indicate higher levels of distress disclosure. |
| Authenticity | Baseline, 5-week, 10-week, 6-months, 12-months | Measured with the Kernis-Goldman Authenticity Inventory - Short Form (KGAI-SF). Total score ranging from 1-5 (representing the mean score of all 20 items). Higher scores indicate less authenticity. |
| Negative Effects | 10-week | Measured with the Inventory for the Assessment of Negative Effects of Psychotherapy (INEP). Total score ranging from -3-3 (representing the mean score of all items). Higher scores indicate less unfavourable effects of psychotherapy. |
| Client Satisfaction | 10-week | Measured with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (ZUF-8). Total score ranging from 1-4 (representing the mean score of all 8 items). Higher scores indicate higher client satisfaction. |
| System Usability | 10-week | Measured with the System Usability Scale (SUS). Total score ranging from 0-100 (representing the sum score multiplied by 2.5). Higher scores indicate higher perceived usability. |
| Self-esteem | Baseline, 10-week | Measured with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Total score ranging from 0-30 (representing the sum of each of the 10 individual items). Higher scores indicate higher self-esteem. |
| Self-determined motivation for solitude | Baseline, 10-week | Measured with the subscale self-determined motivation for solitude of the Motivation for Solitude Scale - Short Form (MSS-SF). Total score ranging from 1-4 (representing the mean score of all 8 items). Higher scores indicate higher self-determined motivation for solitude. |
Countries
Switzerland
Outcome results
None listed