Editorial Perspective: How can we develop effective and timely interventions for young people with chronic loneliness?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Editorial Perspective

T2 - How can we develop effective and timely interventions for young people with chronic loneliness?

AU - Cawthorne, Tom

AU - Qualter, Pamela

AU - Bennett, Sophie

AU - Käll, Anton

AU - Andersson, Gerhard

AU - Shafran, Roz

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - Loneliness is an adaptive experience evolved to create motivation to engage in social relationships. However, for some young people, loneliness can become chronic which can have serious negative health consequences. Despite this, there is a relative lack of evidence for interventions. In this editorial perspective, we highlight four main barriers to the timely development and dissemination of evidence-based support for young people experiencing loneliness. We hypothesise that these challenges could be mitigated by (a) routinely assessing loneliness as part of routine outcome measures (ROMs), (b) utilising modular interventions incorporating intrapersonal, interpersonal and social strategies alongside system-level support and policy changes, (c) evaluating interventions through SCEDs prior to RCTs and (d) delivering interventions flexibly (e.g. via the internet or within non-clinical settings).

AB - Loneliness is an adaptive experience evolved to create motivation to engage in social relationships. However, for some young people, loneliness can become chronic which can have serious negative health consequences. Despite this, there is a relative lack of evidence for interventions. In this editorial perspective, we highlight four main barriers to the timely development and dissemination of evidence-based support for young people experiencing loneliness. We hypothesise that these challenges could be mitigated by (a) routinely assessing loneliness as part of routine outcome measures (ROMs), (b) utilising modular interventions incorporating intrapersonal, interpersonal and social strategies alongside system-level support and policy changes, (c) evaluating interventions through SCEDs prior to RCTs and (d) delivering interventions flexibly (e.g. via the internet or within non-clinical settings).

KW - intervention

KW - Loneliness

KW - mental health

KW - prevention

KW - therapy

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003091375&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/jcpp.14097

DO - 10.1111/jcpp.14097

M3 - Editorial

AN - SCOPUS:105003091375

SN - 0021-9630

VL - 66

SP - 767

EP - 770

JO - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines

JF - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines

IS - 5

ER -