ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4136-5909
Current Organisations
University of Sydney
,
Swinburne University of Technology
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Publications
Technology Matters: Using apps to address loneliness in adolescents and young adults – leveraging tech engagement among digital natives
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-04-2021
DOI: 10.1111/CAMH.12465
In-person interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness: An evidence and gap map
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 14-07-2023
Abstract: Background There is a growing body of research indicating that social isolation and loneliness can occur in all age groups, and they have been shown to be linked to increased mortality and poorer health outcomes. Hence the need for research on interventions aiming to alleviate social isolation and loneliness. Objectives To map available evidence on the effects of in-person interventions aimed at mitigating social isolation and/or loneliness across all age groups and settings.Search methods The following databases were searched from inception up to February 2022 with no language restrictions: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, EBM Reviews – Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, APA PsycInfo via Ovid, CINAHL via EBSCO, EBSCO (all databases except CINAHL), Global Index Medicus, ProQuest (all databases), ProQuest ERIC, Web of Science, Korean Citation Index, Russian Science Citation Index, and SciELO Citation Index via Clarivate, and Elsevier Scopus.Selection criteria Titles, abstracts and full texts of potentially eligible articles identified were screened independently by two reviewers for inclusion following the outlined eligibility criteria. Data collection and analysis We developed and pilot tested a data extraction code set in Eppi-Reviewer. Data was in idually extracted and coded. Main results A total of 513 articles were included in this evidence and gap map (421 primary studies and 92 systematic reviews) which assessed the effectiveness of in-person interventions on the reduction of social isolation and loneliness. Most (68%) of the reviews were classified as critically low quality, while less than 5% were classified as high or moderate quality. The evidence is unevenly distributed with most reviews looking at interpersonal delivery and community-based delivery interventions, especially interventions for changing cognition led by a health professional and group activities, respectively. Loneliness, wellbeing, and depression/anxiety were the most assessed outcomes. Most research was conducted in high-income countries, concentrated in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, with none from low-income countries. Major gaps were identified in societal level and community-based delivery interventions that address policies and community structures, respectively. Less than 5% of included reviews assessed process indicators or implementation outcomes. Similar trends of findings were found in primary studies. All age groups were represented although more reviews and primary studies focused on older adults ≥ 60 years (60%) than young people ≤ 24 years (34%). Two thirds described how at-risk populations were identified and even fewer assessed differences in effect across PROGRESS-Plus factors for populations experiencing inequities.Authors’ conclusions There is growing evidence that social isolation and loneliness are public health concerns. This evidence and gap map shows the available evidence, at the time of the search, on the effectiveness of in-person interventions at reducing social isolation and loneliness across all ages and settings. Despite a large body of research, with much of it published in more recent years, it is unevenly distributed. Most of the systematic reviews are of critically low quality indicating the need for high quality research. This map can guide funders and researchers to consider the areas in which the evidence is lacking and to address these gaps as future research priorities.
Does Centrality in a Cross-Sectional Network Suggest Intervention Targets for Social Anxiety Disorder?
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 27-06-2018
Abstract: Objective: Network analysis allows us to identify the most interconnected (i.e., central) symptoms, and multiple authors have suggested that these symptoms might be important treatment targets. This is because change in central symptoms (relative to others) should have greater impact on change in all other symptoms. It has been argued that networks derived from cross-sectional data may help identify such important symptoms. We tested this hypothesis in social anxiety disorder. Method: We first estimated a state-of-the-art regularized partial correlation network based on participants with social anxiety disorder (N = 910) to determine which symptoms were more central. Next, we tested whether change in these central symptoms were indeed more related to overall symptom change in a separate dataset of participants with social anxiety disorder who underwent a variety of treatments (N = 244). We also tested whether relatively superficial item properties (infrequency of endorsement and variance of items) might account for any effects shown for central symptoms. Results: Centrality indices successfully predicted how strongly changes in items correlated with change in the remainder of the items. Findings were limited to the measure used in the network and did not generalize to three other measures related to social anxiety severity. In contrast, infrequency of endorsement showed associations across all measures. Conclusions: The transfer of recently published results from cross-sectional network analyses to treatment data is unlikely to be straightforward.
Lived experience of loneliness in psychosis: A qualitative approach
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-01-2022
DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2021.2022622
Abstract: Loneliness impedes recovery from mental illness. Despite increased interest in loneliness in psychosis, qualitative methods are underused in clinical research on this topic. We used qualitative interviews to explore loneliness among persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). We examined which aspects of living with psychosis were associated with the experience of loneliness, including symptomatology, social relationships, and disruptions in school/work. Sixteen participants diagnosed with SSDs engaged in semi-structured, qualitative interviews about loneliness. Participants commented on current activities and social relationships, including their perceptions of the quantity, quality and types of relationships. Important demographic and clinical information was acquired through communication with participants and/or through medical record review. Thematic analysis was used to examine interview content. Our analyses revealed four key topic areas and several sub-themes related to loneliness across participants, including aspects of the physical environment (e.g. financial limitations), social context (e.g. lacking a romantic partner), and psychological functioning (e.g. psychotic/symptoms) that impact lonely feelings. Participants commented on coping strategies to manage loneliness and provided suggestions for possible interventions. Persons diagnosed with SSDs report significant and impactful feelings of loneliness. This study highlights the need for novel and effective treatments targeting loneliness in this population.
The Web-Based Uprise Program for Mental Health in Australian University Students: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 10-06-2020
Abstract: niversity students are vulnerable to poor mental health, psychological distress, and loneliness relative to nonuniversity student peers. However, the rate of seeking mental health treatment among university students is low. Web-based psychological interventions may provide an opportunity for supporting vulnerable university students who are unlikely to otherwise seek support. he aim of this study is to examine the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and efficacy of an existing web-based transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) mental health program for use among Australian university students. his is a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a self-directed web-based CBT mental health program with a waitlist control. The self-directed modules will be augmented with optional webchat or telephone coaching with a therapist. The recruitment target is 70 university students who do not present with a clinical mental health disorder. Allocation will be made in a 1:1 ratio and will occur after the initial baseline assessment. Assessments will be completed at baseline, upon completion of a 4-week waitlist (waitlist group only), upon completion of the program, and at 3 months after completion of the program. he trial was funded in June 2018, and the protocol was approved by the Swinburne University Human Research Ethics Committee in September 2018. Recruitment commenced in October 2018, with the first participant allocated in November 2018. A total of 70 participants were recruited to the trial. The trial recruitment ceased in June 2019, and data collection was finalized in December 2019. We expect the final data analysis to be completed by November 2020 and results to be published early in 2021. The primary outcomes are feasibility, acceptability, safety, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The secondary outcomes are psychological wellbeing, quality of life, loneliness, self-reported physical health status, emotion regulation, and cognitive and mindfulness processes. he acceptability, feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a web-based mental health program in university students will be evaluated. Web-based mental health programs offer the opportunity to engage university students who may be reluctant to seek support through traditional face-to-face mental health services, and the transdiagnostic approach of the program has the potential to address the breadth of mental health concerns of university students. ustralian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12618001604291 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12618001604291 ERR1-10.2196/21307
Developing A Digital Psychoeducational Tool to Reduce Loneliness in Older Adults: A Design Case Study
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-08-2021
The Web-Based Uprise Program for Mental Health in Australian University Students: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 04-12-2020
DOI: 10.2196/21307
Abstract: University students are vulnerable to poor mental health, psychological distress, and loneliness relative to nonuniversity student peers. However, the rate of seeking mental health treatment among university students is low. Web-based psychological interventions may provide an opportunity for supporting vulnerable university students who are unlikely to otherwise seek support. The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and efficacy of an existing web-based transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) mental health program for use among Australian university students. This is a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a self-directed web-based CBT mental health program with a waitlist control. The self-directed modules will be augmented with optional webchat or telephone coaching with a therapist. The recruitment target is 70 university students who do not present with a clinical mental health disorder. Allocation will be made in a 1:1 ratio and will occur after the initial baseline assessment. Assessments will be completed at baseline, upon completion of a 4-week waitlist (waitlist group only), upon completion of the program, and at 3 months after completion of the program. The trial was funded in June 2018, and the protocol was approved by the Swinburne University Human Research Ethics Committee in September 2018. Recruitment commenced in October 2018, with the first participant allocated in November 2018. A total of 70 participants were recruited to the trial. The trial recruitment ceased in June 2019, and data collection was finalized in December 2019. We expect the final data analysis to be completed by November 2020 and results to be published early in 2021. The primary outcomes are feasibility, acceptability, safety, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The secondary outcomes are psychological wellbeing, quality of life, loneliness, self-reported physical health status, emotion regulation, and cognitive and mindfulness processes. The acceptability, feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a web-based mental health program in university students will be evaluated. Web-based mental health programs offer the opportunity to engage university students who may be reluctant to seek support through traditional face-to-face mental health services, and the transdiagnostic approach of the program has the potential to address the breadth of mental health concerns of university students. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12618001604291 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12618001604291 DERR1-10.2196/21307
Culturally diverse expert teams have yet to bring comprehensive linguistic diversity to intergovernmental ecosystem assessments
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 18-11-2021
Abstract: Multicultural representation is a stated goal of many global scientific assessment processes. These processes aim to mobilize a broader, more erse knowledge base and increase legitimacy and inclusiveness of these assessment processes. Often, enhancing cultural ersity is encouraged through involvement of erse expert teams and sources of knowledge in different languages. In this article, we examined linguistic ersity, as one representation of cultural ersity, in the eight published assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Bio ersity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Our results show that the IPBES assessment outputs are disproportionately filtered through English-language literature and authors from Anglophone countries. To incorporate more linguistic ersity into global ecosystem assessment processes, we present actionable steps for global science teams to recognize and incorporate non-English-language literature and contributions from non-Anglophones. Our findings highlight the need for broad-scale actions that enhance inclusivity in knowledge-synthesis processes through balanced representation of different knowledge holders and sources.
Development of a graphic medicine-enabled social media-based intervention for youth social anxiety
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-05-2021
Measuring loneliness in different age groups: The measurement invariance of the UCLA Loneliness Scale
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 23-08-2021
Abstract: Age differences in the prevalence of loneliness have been a key focus among researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. However, the degree to which those reflect genuine differences in the experience of loneliness or the way in iduals understand and respond to loneliness measures, is yet to be examined. The current study explored the age measurement invariance of the 20-item Revised University of California Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LSR) and its shorter forms in a UK s le of adults (N = 4,375) aged 18-99 years (M = 50.6, SD = 19.7). The fit of different structures/versions was explored across seven balanced age groups using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results indicated a poor and/ or inconsistent structure for the 20-item UCLA-LSR and for many of its shorter forms. Of the structures considered, 12 showed acceptable model fit and received age measurement invariance testing through multigroup CFA and alignment 10 of these achieved full, partial, or approximate measurement invariance. Our findings suggest that the age measurement invariance of loneliness measures should not be assumed, and crucially, this must be explored before accurate and meaningful age comparisons can be made. Implications for measurement research, and clinical and community practice, are discussed.
Loneliness in older age: What is it, why is it happening and what should we do about it in Australia?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/AJAG.12929
Abstract: Loneliness is an important health issue facing older people due to its association with poor quality of life and poor health outcomes. This paper aimed to clarify key issues around loneliness among older adults and draw attention to innovative programs and the translation of emerging research into practice. Loneliness is a mismatch between a person's actual and desired social connections, experienced as negative emotions. Older adults are vulnerable to loneliness because of changes associated with ageing. As such, identifying as older is often seen as a burden, negatively impacting self‐esteem, sense of purpose and relevance, culminating in loneliness. Interventions combatting loneliness can target in iduals, relationships, communities or societies. We advocate for an intersectoral approach to support healthy ageing and reduce loneliness. This will require further research to evaluate new approaches with loneliness as the primary outcome, and additional funding to translate evidence into an integrated multi‐level approach to addressing loneliness.
Understanding perspectives of older adults on the role of technology in the wider context of their social relationships
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 19-09-2022
DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X2200085X
Abstract: Technological interventions are increasingly popular methods of targeting and preventing loneliness in older adults. Research has identified various factors that influence the willingness and propensity of older adults to integrate technology into their social lives and the ways in which this may enhance their social connectedness. Given prevalence rates and negative outcomes associated with loneliness for this population, further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms through which technological interventions may decrease loneliness. This study aimed to better understand the perspectives of older adults on the role of technology in their social relationships in later life. Four focus groups were conducted with 27 older adults, aged 65–80 years. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, and results were validated via written participant feedback. Participants reported technology as one of many tools used to maintain their social relationships. Their choice to use technology for social interaction was influenced by their estimation of effort required, likely quality of the interaction, and the privacy and security provided. These factors were the same as those that influenced decisions to use other methods ( e.g. face-to-face meetings). Based on the results, we recommend that loneliness interventions should be technology-agnostic and multifaceted, providing a wide range of tools that recognise the technological competencies of older adults and supporting different interaction types to meet the preferences of the in idual.
Related Organisations
Related Funding Activities
No related grants have been discovered for Michelle Lim.