The DOI matches its Crossref record; 174 of the 174 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness
Open accessAbstract
Social and demographic trends are placing an increasing number of adults at risk for loneliness, an established risk factor for physical and mental illness. The growing costs of loneliness have led to a number of loneliness reduction interventions. Qualitative reviews have identified four primary intervention strategies: (a) improving social skills, (b) enhancing social support, (c) increasing opportunities for social contact, and (d) addressing maladaptive social cognition. An integrative meta-analysis of loneliness reduction interventions was conducted to quantify the effects of each strategy and to examine the potential role of moderator variables. Results revealed that single-group pre-post and nonrandomized comparison studies yielded larger mean effect sizes relative to randomized comparison studies. Among studies that used the latter design, the most successful interventions addressed maladaptive social cognition. This is consistent with current theories regarding loneliness and its etiology. Theoretical and methodological issues associated with designing new loneliness reduction interventions are discussed.
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“in contrast, some technological interventions for reducing loneliness, as well as animal therapy or robot pets, were not found to significantly reduce loneliness (Masi et al. 2011; Veronese et al. 2021), although other studies find more promising results of such interventions with older adults (Banks, Willoughby, and Banks 2008; Chen et al. 2020; Gasteiger et al. 2021).”
From AI Companions Reduce Loneliness (2024) · cites this paper as Masi et al. 2011
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“As a potential stressor, chronic loneliness is closely associated with depressive symptoms, maladaptive social cognition, and poor recovery following a mental health crisis.82–84”
From A Longitudinal Study of Loneliness Before the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Trajectories, Predictors, and Impact on Chinese Adolescent Mental Health (2024) · cites this paper as [83]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Interventions that focus on improving social skills and social support are one of the successful strategies that have been used to alleviate loneliness among adult population, as discussed in a previous meta-analysis [163].”
From Association between friendship quality and subjective wellbeing among adolescents: a systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [163]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Most current interventions assume loneliness results from lack of opportunities or competencies to form close relationships (Masi et al., 2011).”
From Young Adult Adaptability to the Social Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Protective Role of Friendships (2022) · cites this paper as Masi et al., 2011
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“a meta-analysis by Masi et al. (2011) revealed that cognitive approaches (i.e., addressing maladaptive social cognition) were most effective in reducing loneliness compared to other strategies, such as social support.”
From Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an internet-based CBT intervention for loneliness in older adults: A pilot RCT (2024) · cites this paper as Masi et al. (2011)
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“as generally effects of loneliness interventions seem to be rather small in randomized group designs (Masi et al., 2011)”
From Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an internet-based CBT intervention for loneliness in older adults: A pilot RCT (2024) · cites this paper as Masi et al., 2011
In the citing paper
“Nine out of 10 reviews of these trials report significant reductions in depressive symptoms, 428-436 generally with small effect sizes.”
From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [436]
In the citing paper
“Bullying at school (and in other settings) is an important target for interventions to avert a strong lifetime risk for depression. 436”
From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [436]
In the citing paper
“Cacioppo and Cacioppo [30] reviewed data suggesting that experiences of physical warmth/coldness and feelings of social warmth/coldness share similar sensorimotor representations.”
From Loneliness and health in older adults: a mini-review and synthesis (2016) · cites this paper as [30]
In the citing paper
“loneliness or perceived social isolation may play a role in modulating the way in which individuals perceive and mirror the expressions and actions of others, particularly nonverbal cues that may indicate social rejection.”
From Loneliness and health in older adults: a mini-review and synthesis (2016) · cites this paper as [30]
In the citing paper
“Psychological approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness, have also been used to help people change their thinking about social relationships: some promising results have been reported, especially with older adult populations [77].”
From Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: a systematic review (2018) · cites this paper as [77]
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Li, L., Pan, K., Li, J., Jiang, M., Gao, Y., Yang, H., & Bian, G. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-69936-w · Cited by 18
“…through lectures and training, (2) increasing regular contact with or the provision of companionship or care for them, (3) offering opportunities for them to engage in social interaction (e.g., community activities), and (4) changing their cognition about social isolation and social support 38,39 .”
BackgroundOng, R. H. S., Sim, H. S., Bergman, M. M., How, C. H., Png, C. A. L., Lim, C. S., Peh, L. H., & Oh, H. C. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0315364 · Cited by 18
Jalali, F., Hashemi, S. F., & Hasani, A. (2019) · Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health · doi:10.2989/17280583.2019.1678474 · Cited by 15
Gangguan Mental Emosional dan Kesepian pada Mahasiswa Baru
Padjadjaran, F. P. U., Prasetio, C. E., Rahman, T. A., & Padjadjaran, F. P. U. (2019) · Mediapsi · doi:10.21776/ub.mps.2019.005.02.4 · Cited by 26
Pets and Loneliness: Examining the Efficacy of a Popular Measurement Instrument
Gilbey, A., & Tani, K. (2020) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.1080/08927936.2020.1771058 · Cited by 17
Klusek, J., Thurman, A. J., & Abbeduto, L. (2021) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04980-3 · Cited by 15
“1 3 training interventions that have been shown to effectively combat loneliness (Masi et al., 2011).”
BackgroundMueller, N. E., Duffy, M. E., Stewart, R. A., Joiner, T. E., & Cougle, J. R. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.065 · Cited by 17
Parsons, M. A. (2022) · SSM - Mental Health · doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100121 · Cited by 16
Seewer, N., Skoko, A., Käll, A., Andersson, G., Luhmann, M., Berger, T., & Krieger, T. (2022) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/36358 · Cited by 14
“Interventions focusing on and changing social cognition were shown to be the most promising approaches compared with other intervention types [49].”
BackgroundMeyer, R. P., & Schuyler, D. (2011) · The Primary Care Companion For CNS Disorders · doi:10.4088/pcc.11f01172 · Cited by 15
Rational AIs with emotional deficits: ChatGPT vs. counselors in providing emotional reflections
Eryılmaz, A., & Başal, A. (2024) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-06947-w · Cited by 17
“The remaining five emotional states were identified in the literature on psychotherapy, psychological counseling, and psychology, including help-lessness (Seligman, 1975), love (Johnson, 2019), trust (Geller & Greenberg, 2002), loneliness (Masi et al., 2011), and doubt (Dar et al., 2016).”
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Research on Goals for Behavior Change
Zhu, J., Lolla, S., Agnihotri, M., Tappeh, S. A., Guluzade, L., Agapie, E., & Sas, C. (2025) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3706598.3714072 · Cited by 21
“Figure 1 and 2 in the Supplementary material provide the list of 76 interventions, with additional codes and extracted data as recommended by the meta-analysis [165] namely intervention type and duration, sample size, technology, measured outcome, goal domain, and effect size.”
Grönlund, H., & Falk, H. (2019) · Diaconia · doi:10.13109/diac.2019.10.1.7 · Cited by 14
“Loneliness is also quite common: Up to 7% of middle-aged and older adults suffer from intense or persistent loneliness (Masi et al., 2011).”
BackgroundInfluentialMorin, A. H. (2022) · International Journal of Educational Research · doi:10.1016/j.ijer.2022.101966 · Cited by 11
Borawski, D., & Nowak, A. (2022) · International Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1002/ijop.12850 · Cited by 18
Hofman, A., Overberg, R. I., Schoenmakers, E., & Adriaanse, M. C. (2022) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114602 · Cited by 20
“Studies have shown that selection of participants is an important factor for effectiveness in loneliness interventions (Fokkema & van Tilburg, 2007; Masi et al., 2011).”
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“In concord with extensive literature highlighting the importance of positive social relationships for psychological health (Hawkley and Cacioppo, 2010; Leigh-Hunt et al., 2017; Masi et al., 2011), the findings of the current review indicate that siblings with poorer social relationships experience greater depressive a…”
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Workplace loneliness and job performance: moderating role of person-environment fit
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Loneliness and depressive symptoms among men who have sex with men in China: A cross-sectional study
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“Indeed, there is a growing body of evidence supporting the role of this cognitive and behavioural cycle in perpetuating levels of loneliness, and several evidence-based loneliness interventions are now designed to target and change cognitive biases (Cacioppo & Cacioppo, 2018; Masi et al., 2011).”
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“Unfortunately, a previous meta-analysis found that interventions tend to be highly individualized, and produce only modest benefits (Masi et al. 2011).”
Ikhtabi, S., Pitman, A., Maconick, L. C., Pearce, E., Dale, O., Rowe, S. L., & Johnson, S. (2024) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05471-8 · Cited by 17
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The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Loneliness: Does Social Anxiety Matter?
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Can the REBT theory explain loneliness? Theoretical and clinical applications
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“Results are compatible with previous assertions that tackling dysfunctional cognitions may be the best way to reduce loneliness (Masi et al., 2011; Theeke et al., 2016).”
ResultZhang, G., Chen, S., Fan, Y., & Dong, Y. (2019) · International Journal of Mental Health Promotion · doi:10.32604/ijmhp.2019.010730 · Cited by 14
“A meta-analysis found that the most effective measure for reducing loneliness is to intervene in the poor social cognition of lonely individuals [72].”
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Reinhard, M. A., Zentz, K., Nenov-Matt, T., Barton, B. B., Rek, S. V., Goerigk, S. A., Brakemeier, E., Musil, R., Jobst, A., & Padberg, F. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders Reports · doi:10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100171 · Cited by 15
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“The more complex model (model 2) did not improve prediction performance [F (3, 295) = 1.”
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“Potentially promising interventions for persons with physical disabilities that might ultimately reduce the negative effect of low SES on loneliness include interventions to enhance social support and social skills [47, 48], labour market participation [49], and participation more generally [50].”
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“chronic type loneliness though even within this 8-year period and therefore again highlights the need for a range of interventions for a range of root causes of loneliness [29, 30] with this group likely needing interventions more focused on addressing maladaptive social cognitions or thought patterns [31] such as cog…”
BackgroundOlder people’s views on loneliness during COVID-19 lockdowns
Morgan, T., Wiles, J. L., Morgan, K., Williams, L., Black, S., Koh, A., Fanueli, E., Moeke‐Maxwell, T., Xu, J., Goodwin, H., et al. (2023) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2023.2211549 · Cited by 18
“A review of loneliness interventions indicates that focusing on activities that are fun and engaging are effective for attending to older people’s loneliness (Masi et al., 2011).”
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Hussain, M., Watson, C. W., Morgan, E. E., Heaton, R. K., Letendre, S. L., Jeste, D. V., Moore, D. J., & Iudicello, J. E. (2023) · Journal of NeuroVirology · doi:10.1007/s13365-023-01145-z · Cited by 15
“Ongoing research examining the efficacy of interventions for loneliness across many populations is promising, including among both younger and older adults without HIV, and in people with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia (Masi et al. 2011; Shah et al. 2019, 2021).”
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Skingley, A. (2013) · British Journal of Community Nursing · doi:10.12968/bjcn.2013.18.2.84 · Cited by 16
Seeman, M. V. (2016) · Psychosis · doi:10.1080/17522439.2016.1264992 · Cited by 15
“Addressing maladaptive social cognition has been shown to be even more effective than targeting social support or social skills, or using social intervention strategies (Masi et al., 2011).”
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Nikitin, J., & Freund, A. M. (2017) · Swiss Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1024/1421-0185/a000201 · Cited by 18
ADOLESCENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA: BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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“, (2011) suggests that the aims of such interventions may fall into four major categories: to improve social skills, to grow social support, to offer more opportunities for social interaction, and to deal with maladaptive social cognition [19].”
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da Costa, M. P., Chevalier, A., Farreny, A., Cassidy, M., Leverton, M., Toner, S. K., & Priebe, S. (2019) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0216929 · Cited by 15
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“In addition, the review analyzed loneliness reduction strategies including improving social skills, enhancing social support, increasing opportunities for social interaction, and addressing deficits in social cognition [31].”
Wang, Y., Sun, Y., & Li, T. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1477239 · Cited by 20
Carrasco, P. M., Crespo, D. P., Rubio, C., & Montenegro-Peña, M. (2021) · Clínica y Salud · doi:10.5093/clysa2021a14 · Cited by 21
“It is precisely this complexity which, in part, may explain the doubtful effectiveness of numerous interventions aimed at reducing loneliness, as well as the discrepancy (Masi et al., 2011) between the results of researches in this area.”
ResultA SPATIAL PRESCRIBING TO HELP PREVENT ISOLATION AND LONELINESS
UCHIHIRA, T., NAKAJIMA, K., & Yasueda, H. (2022) · Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ) · doi:10.3130/aija.87.998 · Cited by 13
Emotional experiences and psychological well-being in 51 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sun, R., Balabanova, A., Bajada, C. J., Liu, Y., Kriuchok, M., Voolma, S.-R., Đurić, M., Mayer, C., Constantinou, M., Chichua, M., et al. (2023) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/emo0001235 · Cited by 16
“Studies that have attempted to enhance well-being via speci fi c emotions have primarily targeted negative emotions, especially anxiety (MacLeod & Clarke, 2015) and loneliness (Masi et al., 2011).”
Ekström, H., Svensson, M., Elmståhl, S., & Wranker, L. S. (2024) · SAGE Open Medicine · doi:10.1177/20503121231222823 · Cited by 15
“…interventions have employed different strategies, such as improving social skills, strengthening the social network, creating opportunities for social interactions, 54 and counteracting maladaptive social cognition, that is, inappropriate expectations, thoughts, and feelings about relationships.”
MethodDworschak, C., Heim, E., Kuhn, N., Schwager, J., Tröster, A., & Maercker, A. R. A. (2024) · Internet Interventions · doi:10.1016/j.invent.2024.100720 · Cited by 17
“In 2011, Masi and colleagues published a meta-analysis on the efficacy of different types of loneliness interventions (Masi et al., 2011).”
BackgroundResultThe ‘loneliness’ epidemic: a new social determinant of health?
Ng, I. K. (2024) · Internal Medicine Journal · doi:10.1111/imj.16356 · Cited by 16
Sha, S., & Cheng, Q. (2024) · Urban forestry & urban greening · doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128375 · Cited by 13
Rees, J., Liu, W., Canson, J., Crosby, L., Tinker, A., Probst, F., Sebastien Ourselin, A., Antonelli, M., Molteni, E., Mexia, N., et al. (2024) · International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1080/17482631.2024.2398259 · Cited by 13
“Psychological approaches to overcoming loneliness aim to change how an individual thinks and feels about their social connections (Campaign to end loneliness, 2020) also referred to as maladaptive social cognitions (Masi et al., 2011).”
BackgroundStein, J. Y., Levin, Y., Aloni, R., & Solomon, Z. (2019) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2019.1594164 · Cited by 14
The Big Five Personality Traits as Predictors of Loneliness among Older Men in Israel
Itzick, M., Kagan, M., & Zychlinski, E. (2019) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980.2019.1653250 · Cited by 16
Shukla, A., Parmar, P., Kapoor, G., Goswami, D., Jha, C. K., Patel, B. V., & Saraf, M. S. (2021) · Molecular Diversity · doi:10.1007/s11030-020-10167-2 · Cited by 12
Rural Social Participation through Osekkai during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ohta, R., Yata, A., Arakawa, Y., Maiguma, K., & Sano, C. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18115924 · Cited by 13
“As studies have suggested, more multifactorial interventions can solve loneliness [32,35], although, from a global perspective, cultural differences can complicate the causes of and solutions for loneliness [36,37].”
BackgroundZhao, F. (2021) · Journal of Professional Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.11.009 · Cited by 13
Barankevich, R., & Loebach, J. E. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.879408 · Cited by 18
Olié, É., Dubois, J., Benramdane, M., Guillaume, S., & Courtet, P. (2022) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.040 · Cited by 13
“A metaanalysis showed that cognitive behavioural therapy is the most successful intervention to address maladaptive social cognition (Masi et al., 2011).”
Backgroundvan Tonder, J. I., Jordaan, J., & Esterhuyse, K. G. F. (2023) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/21582440221148379 · Cited by 28
“This practically indicates that resources employed to curb loneliness amongst university students should be focused on promoting self-esteem, as it has been shown that correcting maladaptive social cognition, and thereby increasing selfesteem, has proven very successful in reducing loneliness (De Jong Gierveld & Fokke…”
BackgroundRelationship of Deterministic Thinking With Loneliness and Depression in the Elderly
Sharifi, M., Aminzadeh, D. M., Sefat, E. S., Sudmand, N., & Younesi, J. (2017) · Salmand · doi:10.21859/sija.12.3.276 · Cited by 13
Attentional Bias for Threat and Anxiety: The Role of Loneliness
Wei, M., Roodenrys, S. J., & Miller, L. M. (2020) · Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/00332747.2020.1762400 · Cited by 13
“Efforts to reduce loneliness often involve the training of social skills and provision of opportunities to develop social relationships (Cacioppo et al., 2015; Masi et al., 2011; Ypsilanti, 2018).”
BackgroundPrevalence and correlates of loneliness in India: A systematic reviewPreprint
Hossain, M. M., Purohit, N., Khan, N., McKyer, E. L. J., Ma, P., Bhattacharya, S., & Pawar, P. P. (2020) · doi:10.31124/advance.11533026.v3 · Cited by 14
AI Companions Reduce Loneliness
De Freitas, J., Uguralp, A. K., Uguralp, Z. O., & Stefano, P. (2024) · arXiv · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2407.19096 · Cited by 12
Brief induction of loneliness decreases vagal regulation during social information processing
Piejka, A., Wiśniewska, M., Thayer, J. F., & Okruszek, Ł. (2021) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.03.002 · Cited by 13
Gratitude and loneliness in daily life across the adult lifespan
Chui, H., & Diehl, M. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02488-8 · Cited by 14
Loneliness Among the Elderly: a Mini Review
Grover, S. (2022) · Consortium Psychiatricum · doi:10.17816/cp143 · Cited by 12
“One study equated the adverse impact of loneliness to being the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day [15]. for social contacts, and addressing maladaptive social cognition [34].”
BackgroundInfluentialByrne, C., Salas, C. E., Coetzer, R., & Ramsey, R. (2022) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2022.883746 · Cited by 13
“It has been proposed that, through processes of natural selection, humans have evolved the need for social connectedness at both a biological and psychological level (Masi et al., 2011).”
BackgroundLoneliness in patients with somatic symptom disorder
Vos, A. E. C. C., Jongen, E. M. M., van den Hout, A. J. H. C., & van Lankveld, J. J. D. M. (2022) · Scandinavian Journal of Pain · doi:10.1515/sjpain-2022-0057 · Cited by 14
The 100 Top-Cited Studies on Loneliness: A Bibliometric Analysis
Banerjee, A., Chawla, S. K., & Kohli, N. (2023) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.37246 · Cited by 21
“DOI 10.7759/cureus.37246 2 of 20 1 UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure [31] Russell Journal of Personality Assessment 1996 2201 Article 2 Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review [3] Holt-Lunstad et al. Perspectives on Psychologica…”
MethodInfluentialRemote Communication and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study
Arakawa, Y., Inoue, K., Nishioka, D., Nakagomi, A., Tabuchi, T., & Kondo, N. (2023) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/45338 · Cited by 19
“Loneliness is a subjective negative experience characterized by a discrepancy between an individual’s desired and actual social relationships [1].”
Riddleston, L., Bangura, E., Gibson, O., Qualter, P., & Lau, J. Y. F. (2023) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2023.104380 · Cited by 14
Leurent, M., Ducasse, D., Courtet, P., & Olié, É. (2023) · European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/s00406-023-01667-x · Cited by 12
Laermans, J., Scheers, H., Vandekerckhove, P. G., & Buck, E. D. J. D. (2023) · Campbell Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/cl2.1359 · Cited by 14
Oshimi, D., Kinoshita, K., & Yamashita, R. (2023) · Journal of Leisure Research · doi:10.1080/00222216.2023.2287009 · Cited by 12
“Loneliness is also linked to mental health, which can influence various life domains (Masi et al., 2011).”
Lee, R. T., Surenkok, G., & Zayas, V. (2024) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18365-5 · Cited by 15
“…should focus on strategies that increase opportunities for social contact and on cognitions that lead to social avoidance and withdrawal [29, 30], we manipulated factors that affect structure, function, and quality: (1) whom participants interacted with (alone vs. an unknown peer vs. a…”
BackgroundWorkplace loneliness: Relationships with abstract entities as substitutes for peer relationships
LaBella, M. S., & van Knippenberg, D. (2024) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.13062 · Cited by 13
Walsh, B. E., & Schlauch, R. C. (2024) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112433 · Cited by 13
Mueller, J., Zhao, X., & Foran, H. M. (2024) · Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking · doi:10.1089/cyber.2023.0549 · Cited by 12
“33 The causes of loneliness are highly personalized and may require tailored interventions.”
Tu, Y., Su, Y., Yang, K., Jin, L., Li, B., Chen, W., Ye, Y., & Wu, D. (2025) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-07261-1 · Cited by 16
“…opportunities, lead to isolation and prevent the individual from improving social skills and from learning how to deal with interpersonal problems (Masi et al, 2011), compared with healthy controls, people who are experiencing depression have lower levels of pleasure in social interactions…”
Zhu, X., Niu, H., Zhu, Q., & Chen, W. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1545440 · Cited by 16
Pikea, P., Parpa, E., Tsilika, E., Galanos, A., & Mystakidou, K. (2016) · World Journal of AIDS · doi:10.4236/wja.2016.64018 · Cited by 13
“There are many definitions about loneliness either as a biological construct or as a discrepancy between desired and actual social relationship [5] [6] [7].”
BackgroundCastro, S. A., Infurna, F. J., Lemery‐Chalfant, K., Waldron, V. R., & Zautra, E. K. (2019) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2019.03.012 · Cited by 12
Experiences of meaningful connection in the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic
Smallen, D. (2021) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/02654075211040221 · Cited by 13
“, 2015), what some researchers have termed meaningful social connections or relationships (Masi et al., 2011; Hawkley et al., 2003).”
BackgroundAcculturation, adaptation, and loneliness among Cape Verdean immigrants
Neto, J., Quintana‐Orts, C., & Neto, F. F. M. (2022) · International Journal of Intercultural Relations · doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2022.01.013 · Cited by 15
Individual differences in social attachment: A multi‐disciplinary perspective
Gustison, M. L., & Phelps, S. M. (2022) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/gbb.12792 · Cited by 15
“50,54,58”
Reinhard, M. A., Popov, N., Rek, S. V., Nenov-Matt, T., Barton, B. B., Jobst, A., Musil, R., & Padberg, F. (2022) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.057 · Cited by 17
Pollet, T. V., Thompson, A., Malcolm, C., McCarty, K., Saxton, T. K., & Roberts, S. G. B. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0266167 · Cited by 14
“As many interventions use the UCLA Loneliness Scale as an outcome measure [14, 15], if treated as a unitary scale this may miss these more subtle changes in different aspects of loneliness as a result of the intervention.”
BackgroundMethodA nursing care-sensitive patient satisfaction measure in older patients
Goes, M., Oliveira, H. J. M., Lopes, M. J., da Fonseca, C. J. V., de Pinho, L. G., & Marques, M. D. C. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-33805-9 · Cited by 15
Awareness of risk factors for loneliness among third agers
Schoenmakers, E., van Tilburg, T. G., & Fokkema, T. (2013) · Ageing and Society · doi:10.1017/s0144686x12001419 · Cited by 15
“Other success factors for loneliness-reducing interventions are: giving participants the opportunity to influence the intervention trajectory, a high quality of professionals or volunteers, building on existing social networks, and developing social skills and self-esteem (Cattan et al. 2005; Findlay 2003; Fokkema & V…”
BackgroundStrategies to prevent loneliness
Gierveld, J. D. J., & Fokkema, T. (2015) · KNAW Research Portal (The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) · doi:10.4324/9781315774374-22 · Cited by 13
Ramirez, C., Christophe, V., Dassonneville, C., & Grynberg, D. (2017) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016308 · Cited by 12
Threats to Belonging Threaten Health: Policy Implications for Improving Physical Well-Being
Jaremka, L. M., & Sunami, N. (2017) · Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1177/2372732217747005 · Cited by 13
Stout, M. E., Meints, S. M., & Hirsh, A. T. (2018) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10508-017-1138-7 · Cited by 12
“—may be particularly effective, along with other strategies that address social skills and increase social support and opportunities for rewarding social contact (Cacioppo et al., 2015b; Masi, Chen, Hawkley, & Cacioppo, 2010).”
BackgroundTrajectories of attachment in older age: interpersonal trauma and its consequences
Bachem, R., Levin, Y., & Solomon, Z. (2018) · Attachment & Human Development · doi:10.1080/14616734.2018.1479871 · Cited by 8
Borawski, D. (2018) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.037 · Cited by 12
Metadata
- Authors
- Masi, C. M., Chen, H.-Y., Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Corresponding author
- Masi, Christopher M.
- Venue
- Personality and Social Psychology Review
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-08-17
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 219-266
- ISSN
- 1088-8683 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7957
- PMC
- PMC3865701
- OpenAlex
- W2138867401
- Cited by
- 1,995
- References
- 168
- Citations by year
- 2026: 149 · 2025: 211 · 2024: 212 · 2023: 205 · 2022: 214 · 2021: 231 · 2020: 221 · 2019: 130 · 2018: 90 · 2017: 92 · 2016: 54 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 4.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Personality and Social Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (Z99 RG999999, 5r01ag036433-02)
- National Institute on Aging (R01-AG036433, K08AG027200, R01AG034052)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Keywords
- loneliness, social skills training, social support, social contact, intervention effectiveness, moderators, randomized controlled trials, non-randomized studies
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Health Promotion, Humans, Loneliness, Psychotherapy, Research Design, Social Adjustment, Social Perception, Social Support
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