An examination of psychotherapeutic interventions for loneliness and cultural considerations for their implementation

The psychological state of loneliness has been associated with a wide number and variety of physical and emotional conditions, which has highlighted the need for effective treatments targeting loneliness. The objectives of this chapter are to educate the audience about clinical definitions of loneliness, to review measures of loneliness used in clinical and research settings, to review four types of psychotherapeutic interventions for loneliness, and to discuss some cultural considerations related to treatment implementation. To frame the discussion of effective interventions, we first identify a definition of loneliness that serves to differentiate this state from the typical confounds of social isolation and being alone. We then examine several psychological instruments that measure loneliness. Next, four types of psychotherapeutic interventions included in a recent meta-analysis by Masi et al. (2011) will be explored in depth: social support provision, social skills training, increased opportunities for social interactions, and remediation of maladaptive social cognitions. In addition to discussing the effectiveness of these therapies for loneliness, we will discuss their general treatment focus (e.g., cognition, skills acquisition), target patient population, and implementation procedures. Cultural considerations that have the potential to impact the implementation and/or outcome of these therapies will be briefly explored. The chapter will conclude with a discussion of clinical recommendations and possible directions for future research in the field of loneliness interventions.