Treating loneliness

Question 1

Most effective methods

Answer 1

Improving social skills

Enhancing social support

Increasing opportunities for social contact

Addressing Maladaptive social cognition

However; Only moderate effectiveness.

Question 2

Problems with previous interventions

Answer 2

Loneliness is seen as a unidimensional concept
Focus on one contributing factor

Complexity and diversity is often overlooked.

Question 3

Pilot intervention of CBT

Answer 3

Aimed to alleviate loneliness, Tried to
- Make it personal
- Gave psychoeducation
- Included more maintaining factors
- Guiding attention in social situations
- Changing maladaptive thoughts
- Practise interpersonal skills

Question 4

Results

Answer 4

Emotional loneliness: moderate decrease

Social loneliness; no decrease

Explained by the idea that it still aimed at the personal /micro level of loneliness. This is still only a small part of all that influences loneliness (macro/societal an meso community)