The Impact of a Digital Intervention (Happify) on Loneliness During COVID-19: Qualitative Focus Group.
Eliane M BoucherEmily C McNaughtonNicole HarakeJulia L StaffordAcacia C ParksPublished in: JMIR mental health (2021)
The heterogeneity in participants' experiences with loneliness described during this focus group emphasizes the subjective and complex nature of loneliness. This highlights the importance of developing loneliness interventions that use a variety of strategies, including both direct and indirect strategies for reducing loneliness. However, based on our data, a key component to loneliness interventions is incorporating strategies for addressing underlying negative self-perceptions that stem from, but also contribute to, loneliness. This data also provides preliminary evidence that digital platforms may be an effective tool for disseminating loneliness interventions while providing the added benefit of offering a productive distraction when feeling lonely.