Need to Be Needed Intervention for Social Isolation
(N2BN RCT Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores how an intervention focused on volunteering and acts of kindness can reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation in adults with serious mental illnesses, such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Participants will either join a group receiving weekly support to plan and engage in volunteering or a control group receiving general information and brief support sessions. The trial aims to determine if these activities can enhance participants' sense of being needed and connected. Individuals diagnosed with a mental illness like major depression or schizophrenia, who live in the community and feel lonely, might be a good fit for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore new ways to enhance social connections and improve mental well-being.
What prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for adults with serious mental illness?
Research has shown that activities aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness are generally safe and well-received. For instance, studies on mindfulness and intergenerational programs have demonstrated their ability to reduce loneliness without major side effects. Although the "Need to Be Needed" program is new, it involves volunteering and support, which are typically safe activities.
The program includes weekly meetings with a support person to help set and achieve personal goals. This support is flexible and tailored to each individual, allowing adjustments to suit personal comfort levels and needs. This approach ensures the program is both effective and safe for participants.
Overall, activities like volunteering and support meetings are known to be safe. Participants can trust that the program prioritizes their well-being.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the "Need to Be Needed Intervention" because it offers a unique approach to tackling social isolation through supported volunteering. Unlike typical treatments that might focus on therapy or medication, this intervention involves direct, ongoing engagement with participants to develop personalized volunteering plans, which are flexible and adaptable over time. The interventionists provide regular support, promoting active participation and problem-solving, which could enhance participants' sense of purpose and connection with others. This method stands out because it emphasizes action and community involvement, rather than just passive information or traditional support methods.
What evidence suggests that the Need to Be Needed Intervention could be effective for reducing social isolation in adults with serious mental illness?
Research has shown that efforts to reduce loneliness can be quite effective. Psychological approaches, in particular, have moderate success in lessening loneliness. One study found that participants in mindfulness training felt 22% less lonely each day compared to those who did not participate. Group activities also appear to be a cost-effective way to reduce loneliness, even though study results vary. Overall, these findings suggest that organized support and activities, such as the Need to Be Needed Intervention being tested in this trial, could help reduce feelings of social isolation in adults with serious mental illness.16789
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults with serious mental illnesses like Major Depression, Bipolar I/II, or Schizophrenia Spectrum disorder who feel socially isolated. They must live in the community, speak English, and score at least a 6 on the UCLA-Loneliness Scale.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants in the intervention arm receive weekly support from the interventionist to improve social connection through volunteering, kindness, and gratitude.
Mid-point Assessment
Data collection at the mid-point of the intervention to assess changes in loneliness, social isolation, and other measures.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in social connection, loneliness, and other outcomes after the intervention.
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Need to Be Needed Intervention
Trial Overview
The study tests an intervention to reduce loneliness by engaging participants in acts of kindness and gratitude through volunteering. It compares this 'Need to Be Needed' approach with a control group receiving general support over six months.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Interventionists will meet with participants to discuss supported volunteering concepts and develop an initial plan. This plan will be flexible as it is likely that participants will need multiple opportunities to identify and explore options for voluntarism. Once the plan is developed, interventionist will make weekly contact to support participants in achieving goals. These weekly contacts (3x per month) are expected to be brief (30-40 minutes) and focused on information sharing and supported problem solving. Interventionists will also schedule monthly plan reviews (1x per month) with participants to review and revise supported volunteering individualized plans. Both clients who are achieving goals as well as those falling short of their goals may want to revise or change their plan.
Participants assigned to the attention control condition will receive printed information on the importance and opportunities for volunteering and will be encouraged to review resources from the TU Collaborative website. They will receive weekly 10-minute non-directive supportive listening sessions via telephone/videoconferencing with a Research assistant. Research assistants are full-time staff members with an undergraduate degree in psychology. Undergraduate students are not involved in performing the weekly check-ins with the control group. The control group will not receive weekly 1:1 support through a trained clinician.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Temple University
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
Collaborator
Citations
The effectiveness of interventions to prevent loneliness and ...
The results show interventions can potentially reduce loneliness in the non-institutionalized, community-dwelling and older population living at home.
Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions Addressing Loneliness ...
Group-based interventions appear generally cost-effective in reducing loneliness despite heterogeneities among studies.
Are Loneliness Interventions Effective for Reducing ...
Psychological interventions appeared to be the most effective intervention strategy for reducing loneliness, demonstrating a moderate effect, while social and ...
4.
whatworkswellbeing.org
whatworkswellbeing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Full-report-Tackling-loneliness-Oct-2018_0151580300.pdfthe effectiveness of interventions to address loneliness at ...
The authors conclusion is that trials data suggest that animal assistive therapy has little effect on loneliness outcomes. Music. One unpublished study ...
Interventions - Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults
The study found that individuals who received mindfulness training reported a 22 percent reduction in daily loneliness compared with the control group; thus, ...
Needs of social isolation, loneliness, and intergenerational ...
This scoping review examines the effectiveness of intergenerational interventions aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness among older adults in the ...
The risks of social isolation
"There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that ...
Loneliness, Lack of Social and Emotional Support ...
Loneliness and isolation are indicators of social disconnection that can lead to poor mental and physical health outcomes, including increased ...
9.
research.aota.org
research.aota.org/ajot/article/79/6/7906090010/28470/Social-Isolation-Loneliness-and-the-Potential-ofSocial Isolation, Loneliness, and the Potential of Occupational ...
Most concerningly, socially isolated individuals have a 33% higher risk of death compared with socially connected peers (Naito et al., 2023), ...
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