An Entertainment-Education Video and Written Messages to Alleviate Loneliness in Germany: Pilot Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Digital Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Over half of German adults experienced loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Previous research indicates boosting positive emotions and social connectedness can combat loneliness.
• Interventions targeting these psychosocial resources are under-tested.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the feasibility of digital interventions for alleviating loneliness.
• Interventions included an animated video, written messages, or a combination thereof.
• The study aimed to assess impacts on loneliness, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and hope.

Main Methods:

• 252 German adults (≥18 years) were randomized into three intervention groups or a control group.
• Interventions comprised an animated video, written messages, or both, focusing on social connectedness and coping strategies.
• Primary outcome (loneliness) measured by UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8); secondary outcomes included self-esteem, self-efficacy, and hope.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant reduction in loneliness scores was observed across intervention groups compared to the control.
• A significant increase in the intention to cope with loneliness was found after exposure to the animated video compared to the control group (P=.04).

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates the feasibility of digital interventions for loneliness research.
• Findings highlight the potential of creative digital tools to enhance the intention to cope with loneliness.
• Results support the feasibility of a full-scale study on digital interventions for loneliness.