Overview
This study aims to enroll 65 participants who will be assigned to one of two groups. Each group will receive an intervention consisting of six weekly sessions of 40-60 minutes each. Eligibility includes residing in an agricultural area and reporting loneliness or feeling alone or disconnected.
Description
Individuals (n = 65) who reside in a agricultural area and report loneliness will be randomized to either (1) therapist-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy for perceived social isolation, or (2) therapist-delivered Health Education. Loneliness, quantity of social interactions, perceived social support, substance use outcomes, and other key outcomes and descriptive characteristics will be assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and at a one-month follow-up. Participants will have the option to complete daily ecological momentary assessments (EMA) 3 times a day for 7 weeks via an app on their smartphone, Catalyst by MetricWire, throughout the intervention period.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 years of age or older
- able to provide informed consent
- understand English
- have internet access
- reside in an agricultural area
- screen positive for loneliness by scoring at least 44 on the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale
Exclusion Criteria:
- unable to give informed consent
- non-English speaking
- does not have consistent access to a phone and/or internet
- reports being diagnosed with a neurological disorder or a current psychotic or bipolar 1 diagnosis
- current suicidal or homicidal intent indicating a need for immediate hospitalization or treatment as determined by clinical interviewer