Evaluating the Effectiveness of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness in Hong Kong Younger Adults

NCT07543653 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024-2025-0467
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 110
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a group-based Positive Affect (PA) intervention compared to an active control condition, Social Skills Training (SST), in reducing loneliness among young adults in Hong Kong. It further examines the psychological mechanisms underlying intervention effects, specifically the roles of positive affect and perceived social support as mediators, and rejection sensitivity as a moderator influencing both treatment responsiveness and outcome translation.

Conditions

Loneliness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Loneliness measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale

  The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a reliable self-assessment tool designed to evaluate feelings of loneliness. Possible scores range from 1 (never) to 4 (always).

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Perceived Stress on 5-point Chinese Version of the Perceived Stress Scale（PSS-10）

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

• Symptoms of Depression on 4-point Chinese Version of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

• Symptoms of Anxiety on 4-point Chinese Version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale （GADS-7）

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

• Perceived Social Support on 7-point Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

Other Outcomes (8)

• Affective Experience over the Past Week on 30-item Affect Valuation Index (actual affect) (AVI)

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

• Meaning of Life on 7-point Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ)

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

• Gratitude on 7-point Gratitude Scale Questionnaire-Six Item Form (GQ-6)

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

Study Arms (2)

Group-based Positive Affect Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the Positive Affect group will receive the group-based psychoeduction Intervention to test the effects of the intervention in reducing loneliness among young adults.

Behavioral: Group-based Positive Affect Intervention

Group-based Social Skills Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the SST group will receive the group-based SST Intervention as an active control.

Behavioral: Group-based Social Skills Training

Interventions

Group-based Positive Affect Intervention BEHAVIORAL

A 4-week intervention consisting of eight skills aimed at enhancing positive affect, delivered via gourp-based psychoeduction by trained facilitators. Participants will learn skills such as gratitude, mindfulness, and positive reappraisal, with sessions held once a week.

Group-based Positive Affect Intervention

Group-based Social Skills Training BEHAVIORAL

The SST intervention serves as an active control and focuses on improving interpersonal competence. It includes training in social behavior styles (assertive, shy, aggressive), initiating and maintaining social interactions, setting boundaries, giving and receiving feedback, and conflict resolution. Improvements in interpersonal competence are expected to enhance perceived social support, which in turn reduces loneliness. The intervention will be held within 4-week.

Group-based Social Skills Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• aged 18 to 30 years
• proficiency in Cantonese
• experiencing loneliness (defined as a score of ≥ 6 on the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale)

You may not qualify if:

• cognitive impairments
• psychiatric disorders, learning disabilities, or active suicidal ideation
• currently participating in other psychotherapy or psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing well-being

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Education University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Education University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

JIN ZHANG

CONTACT

85229487138; s1151958@s.eduhk.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Behavioral: Group-based Positive Affect intervention Behavioral: Group-based Social Skills Training

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 14, 2026
• First Posted: April 22, 2026
• Study Start: March 31, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)