Evaluating a Single-Session Intervention for Loneliness

The goal of this study is to examine the efficacy of an online single-session intervention (SSI) for loneliness.It aims to answer is if a 20-30 minute online SSI based on an evidence-based internet cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce feelings of loneliness among lonely people.type of study: clinical trialparticipant population/health conditions: English-speakers aged 16 and older with access to internet and a computer, smartphone, or tablet who meet our criteria for struggling with loneliness.Researchers will compare a 30-minute digital loneliness SSI to a 3-week loneliness digital mental health intervention (DMHI) and a control SSI in their efficacy in reducing loneliness.

Inclusion Criteria:Be fluent in EnglishBe 16 years old +Have internet access and a computer, smartphone, or tabletTo be paid for participation, must meet our criteria for "struggling with loneliness" (ie, a score on the 3-item loneliness screen of at least 6, and indicating that one's loneliness is causing one distress). Otherwise, participants can still participate in the study on a volunteer basis.Exclusion Criteria:Having completed the study in the pastFailing both of the attention checks in the baseline measures.Spending less than 2 minutes completing the study introduction and baseline measures (ie, were very likely bots)Indicating, at the end of the study, that one did not complete the study seriously and that one's data should not be included in analyses.