Loneliness is a common experience among young people, with research suggesting that adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable. This feeling of isolation can have negative impacts on both mental and physical health, as well as significant economic costs. Despite the importance of addressing loneliness early on, there are limited interventions specifically designed for young people. Recognizing this gap, Riddleston et al (2023) developed a cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) training program aimed at reducing loneliness in youth.
The intervention targets individuals who may perceive social situations as threatening, leading them to avoid social interactions and perpetuate a cycle of loneliness. The CBM-I training focuses on challenging these negative interpretations and encouraging neutral or positive outlooks. After collaborating with young people with lived experience of loneliness, the researchers conducted a pilot feasibility trial of the training program.
Participants aged 18-25, enrolled as university students, and who had experienced loneliness were recruited for the study. The training involved engaging in mental imagery exercises with audio clips of ambiguous social situations, with an emphasis on positive resolutions. The results indicated that participants in the CBM-I group showed significant reductions in negative interpretation bias and decreases in loneliness compared to the control group.
Overall, the findings suggest that the CBM-I training is viable, feasible, and acceptable among university students, showing promising effects in reducing loneliness levels. The study’s strengths include the novel approach to addressing loneliness in young people and the collaborative development of materials with the target population. However, limitations such as sample homogeneity and potential biases in self-report measures need to be considered.
In conclusion, the CBM-I training shows potential as an effective intervention for reducing loneliness in young adults, offering new insights into addressing this prevalent issue among university students. Further research will be needed to validate the findings and explore the intervention’s efficacy in broader populations.
