Table 2 Themes and subthemes capturing participant views on loneliness interventions
Themes | Subthemes |
|---|---|
1. Choosing the appropriate intervention for each stage of loneliness | 1.1. Interpersonal strategies as early intervention 1.2. Social strategies for general loneliness 1.3. Intrapersonal strategies for more severe loneliness in the context of mental health problems |
2. Engaging people in interventions | 2.1. Facilitators: making intervention enjoyable and use of positive language 2.2. Barriers: stigma and lack of motivation |
3. Optimising intervention setting and delivery | 3.1. Benefits of a group setting 3.2. Flexible duration and continuity of support 3.3. Brief but regular session length |
4. Divergent views on the role of technology | 4.1. Greater accessibility and anonymity 4.2. Inferior quality of social interactions 4.3. The positives and negatives of social media |
5. Clarity over the scope of an intervention | 5.1. General approach for social loneliness 5.2. Targeted approach for emotional loneliness |
6. Importance of using a combination approach | 6.1. Importance of individual preferences 6.2. Combining varied aspects within a single intervention 6.3. Autonomy to choose preferred features |