4.Q. Round table: Loneliness as a public health priority: Advancing evidence-based interventions and policy action

Abstract

 

Loneliness is increasingly recognised as a critical public health concern, with growing evidence linking it to poor mental and physical health. The issue has gained substantial international attention, from national strategies for loneliness in several countries to the World Health Organization's recent establishment of a global commission and an expert advisory group on social connection. These developments reflect a growing recognition of loneliness as both a societal and public health challenge. This roundtable aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of the current evidence base for loneliness interventions and to explore the implications for policy and practice. We will draw on recent state-of-the-art literature reviews that synthesise available evidence on the effectiveness of interventions, highlight the diversity and limitations of current approaches, and identify key gaps in knowledge and implementation. Through an interactive dialogue with the audience, the roundtable will critically examine which types of interventions are most promising. The panel will also discuss how to translate this evidence into policy action and provide guidelines and recommendations for advancing the field of loneliness interventions. Brief presentations from the four panelist will provide key insights and set the stage for an engaging discussion.

1. Mathias Lasgaard, professor and leading researcher on loneliness interventions, will present findings from a meta-analysis of 280 studies on loneliness interventions. Small to moderate short-term effects on loneliness were observed. Psychological interventions appeared to be the most effective intervention strategy for reducing loneliness, but overall confidence in the estimates was low.

2. Thomas Hansen, research professor and advisor to the Norwegian government's national action plan on loneliness, will present findings from a meta-analysis of RCT-based digital interventions targeting loneliness and social isolation. The review included a range of approaches (e.g., web-based programs, mobile apps). Findings were mixed, with some interventions showing modest effects, while evidence remains limited for many commonly used strategies.

3. Nina Goldman, postdoctoral researcher and Honorary Research Fellow, will present preliminary findings of a review of community-based interventions conducted as part of the project Unlocking Community Potential. The review maps the current evidence on community intervention for loneliness and explores how these are evaluated.

4. Eric Schoenmakers, senior researcher and advisor to the national loneliness action program in the Netherlands, will present guidelines for evaluating and reporting social isolation and loneliness interventions. These guidelines help to more consistently report on loneliness interventions and improve their comparability, ultimately contributing to the improvement of interventions and the mitigation of loneliness.

Key messages

• We aim to advance the public health response to loneliness by synthesising current evidence on the effectiveness of interventions and discussing how this evidence can inform policy and practice.

• The roundtable will highlight promising approaches, critical evidence gaps, guidelines and actionable recommendations for reducing loneliness across populations.

Speakers/Panellists

Mathias Lasgaard

Defactum, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus, Denmark

Thomas Hansen

Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

Eric Schoenmakers

Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, Netherlands

Nina Goldman

University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark