Evaluating the Effectiveness of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness in Chinese Young Adults

NCT07543653 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024-2025-0467
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• 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 and mainland China. 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 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale

  The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a reliable self-assessment tool designed to evaluate subjective feelings of loneliness. Total scores are calculated based on individual item ratings ranging from 1 (never) to 4 (always). Higher scores indicate a greater degree of loneliness (worse outcome).

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Perceived Stress on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

• Symptoms of Depression on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

• Symptoms of Anxiety on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Scale

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

• Perceived Social Support on the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)

  Baseline, 1-month, and 3-month

Other Outcomes (8)

• Affective Experience over the Past Week on the 30-item Affect Valuation Index (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 (PA) group will receive a group-based psychoeducation intervention designed to test its effectiveness in reducing loneliness among college students.

Behavioral: Group-based Positive Affect Intervention

Group-based Social Skills Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the Social Skills Training (SST) group will receive a group-based SST intervention as an active control.

Behavioral: Group-based Social Skills Training

Interventions

Group-based Positive Affect Intervention BEHAVIORAL

This 4-week intervention consists of eight skills aimed at enhancing positive affect, delivered via group-based psychoeducation by trained facilitators. Participants will learn skills such as gratitude, mindfulness, and positive reappraisal, with sessions held once a week to test the effects of the intervention in reducing loneliness among young adults.

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, and 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 delivered over a 4-week period.

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 Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin)
• 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: July 1, 2026
• Study Completion: August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)