Tackling Youth Loneliness in Urban Areas: Measuring Feasibility, Acceptability, and Benefits of a Community-based Intervention.

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate a new community-based programme designed to reduce loneliness among young and working-age adults living in London. The study focuses on the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, which promotes social connections through community initiatives, online interaction spaces, and free or low-cost social events. It also seeks to determine the programme's cost-effectiveness while addressing loneliness, which is linked to negative mental and physical health outcomes, especially in this age group. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the community-based intervention group or a wait-list control group. Those in the intervention group will attend weekly social activities such as social walks, bingo nights, board game afternoons, and pub quizzes for 12 weeks, with a commitment to participate in at least eight activities. After this period, they enter a 6-week post-intervention phase without encouraged participation. The control group will continue any usual care or support they are receiving and can access the community programme independently after the 18-week study period. Throughout the 18 weeks of the trial, all participants will complete online self-report assessments at the start, end of the 12-week intervention, and six weeks after. The intervention group will also participate in a final qualitative interview six weeks post-intervention. Researchers will measure feasibility, acceptability, loneliness, wellbeing, social connectedness, quality of life, capability, and service use. This comprehensive evaluation will help understand the intervention's impact and participants' experiences.

Establishing Social Connections in Urban Areas: Evaluating a Community-based Programme