NCT04414826

Preliminary Efficacy of a One-Session Mindfulness Telehealth Intervention for Loneliness

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 91 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The primary aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of a one-session, hour-long HIPAA-compliant video platform-based mindfulness + compassion telehealth intervention on reducing feelings of loneliness during COVID-19 quarantine. Participants (n=120) currently isolating due to COVID-19 will be randomized to one of three interventions: (a) mindfulness + compassion (MC); (b) mindfulness alone (MO); and (c) waitlist control (WL). The investigators predict that participants in the active intervention groups (mindfulness or mindfulness + compassion) will show a significantly greater reduction in subjective feelings of loneliness at one week follow-up compared to those in the waitlist control group. Additionally, investigators predict that participants in the active intervention groups will show a significantly greater reduction in stress at one week follow-up compared to those in the waitlist control group. Last, investigators predict that participants in the mindfulness + compassion group will show a significantly greater reduction in subjective feelings of loneliness at the 2-week follow-up follow-up relative to those in the mindfulness only group.

Detailed description

Individuals are currently living in an unprecedented time where they are isolated in their homes for an extended period due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Feelings of loneliness, or perceived social isolation, have often been cited as accompanying objective social isolation. Prior research has established a link between loneliness and a variety of mental health outcomes including increased depressive symptoms, increased stress reactivity, and increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts. The urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic thus necessitates the investigation of potential short-term interventions for loneliness. Research has suggested that longer-term mindfulness interventions may be effective in mitigating feelings of loneliness and its concomitant mental health outcomes. The proposed study seeks to determine the preliminary efficacy of a one-session mindfulness-based telehealth intervention for loneliness during COVID-19. To increase the potency of this mindfulness-based intervention, the investigators aim to incorporate compassion motivated social engagement. There is ample evidence that mindfulness alone is an effective intervention method for addressing loneliness. However, inclusion of a compassion component may amplify the effects of an intervention on loneliness because prior research has found that less compassion is associated with greater loneliness. To date, no research has explicitly tested the effect of incorporating compassion into a mindfulness intervention for reducing feelings of loneliness.

Conditions

• Loneliness

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Mindfulness Alone (MO) Intervention	Participants will receive a one-session, hour-long telehealth intervention emphasizing awareness and non-reactivity skills.
BEHAVIORAL	Mindfulness + Compassion Intervention (MC)	Participants will receive a one-session, hour-long telehealth intervention emphasizing awareness, non-reactivity, and compassion skills.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-05-25
• Primary completion: 2021-11-26
• Completion: 2021-11-26
• First posted: 2020-06-04
• Last updated: 2022-06-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States