Targeting mechanisms underlying loneliness in chronic conditions

Social isolation and loneliness have a bidirectional relationship with poorer chronic disease outcomes. This project aims to understand the causal psychological mechanisms that underlie this relationship using a mixed-method design across three studies. These studies will identify the social, emotional, cognitive and health factors associated with social isolation and loneliness in chronic disease populations using qualitative research (study 1), and through a new longitudinal study to identify the psychological causal mechanisms that cause and maintain social isolation and loneliness, and how these impact on chronic disease outcomes over time (study 2). Building on our existing work that has identified key psychological strategies for reducing loneliness in non-illness populations, coupled with the new knowledge from the findings in studies 1 and 2 of this project that identify the likely causal mechanisms, we will evaluate in a clinical trial a psychological intervention to reduce social isolation and loneliness in individuals with chronic diseases (study 3). This body of work will lead to new knowledge about the psychological factors that cause and maintain social isolation and loneliness in chronic disease populations over time, the impact of social isolation and loneliness on chronic disease management and chronic disease outcomes and establish preliminary evidence of novel therapeutic approaches to improve the wellbeing of people living with chronic diseases. See more information at: https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/centres/lifespan-health-and-wellbeing/our-projects/social-health-and-wellbeing/targeting-mechanisms-underlying-loneliness-in-chronic-conditions