Testing the Effectiveness of an Online Behavioral Intervention in Reducing Loneliness

Testing the Effectiveness of an Online Behavioral Intervention in Reducing Loneliness

This study will use a longitudinal randomized experimental design. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a positive affect skills intervention or a psychoeducation control group and assessed with questionnaires at baseline and immediately post 8-week intervention.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a positive affect skills intervention or a psychoeducation control group, with each intervention lasting 8-weeks. Participants in the positive affect skills intervention will have full access to the unchanged Happify platform.

The psychoeducation control group participants will use a version of the Happify platform that encourages thinking about well-being through quizzes and polls without providing any instructions for promotion (i.e., Wait-list Control). Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires before and after the 8-week program, at which point study participation will end.

Inclusion Criteria:

• No prior experience on the Happify platform (new user registration)
• Located in the United States
• Self reported loneliness/desire to be more connected to others

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who are under the age of 18, reside outside of the United States, have previously registered for Happify, or did not self report loneliness/desire to be more connected with others