Abstract
BackgroundCommunity interventions are often promoted as a way of reducing loneliness and social isolation in our neighbourhoods. However, those community interventions are rarely examined within rigorous study designs. One strategy that holds the potential to reduce loneliness and can promote health and wellbeing is doing acts of kindness. The current study involves evaluating the impact of kindness acts on loneliness in community-dwelling individuals using an online social networking platform.MethodsThis study is made up of three randomised controlled trials conducted in three countries. Each randomised controlled trial has two arms (intervention vs waitlist control) and is designed to compare the effectiveness of the KIND challenge, which involves doing at least one act of kindness per week within a four-week period. This study will recruit users of an online community, be randomised online, and will be conducted using online assessments. We will first explore the effects of the intervention on the primary outcome of loneliness, followed by secondary outcomes, social isolation, neighbour relationship quality and contact, mental health symptoms, stress, quality of life, and positive affect. Further, we will assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the KIND Challenge.DiscussionThis study, designed to evaluate the impact of kindness on the community, will be the first large scale randomised control trial conducted across three countries, Australia, UK, and USA. It will examine the potential of community-led interventions to reduce loneliness, improve social isolation, and promote neighbourhood cohesion, health, and wellbeing, which is especially crucial during the COVID-19 public health crisis.Trial registrationClinical Trials Registry. NCT04398472. Registered 21st May 2020.
Highlights
Community interventions are often promoted as a way of reducing loneliness and social isolation in our neighbourhoods
To ensure randomisation was successful, balance at baseline will be assessed between the trial and control group on all outcomes i.e., primary outcome loneliness, secondary outcome social isolation, and secondary neighbourhood relationship quality and contact outcomes (c) social cohesion and trust, (d) perception that their neighbourhood is improving, (e) importance around getting to know their neighbours, (f) supportive, aversive, or ambivalent neighbour network classification, (g) neighbourhood conflict, (h) number of neighbourhood contacts, and the secondary mental health outcomes, (i) depression, (j) social anxiety, (k) stress, (l) quality of life, and (m) positive affect
Missing data The proportion of missing data will be determined for a given outcome variable and the following procedures will be applied: i) if less than 5% of data are missing a complete case analysis will be undertaken, ii) if more than 5% and is missing and is missing at random (MAR), multiple full information maximum likelihood (FIML) will be utilised [59, 60]
Summary
Community interventions are often promoted as a way of reducing loneliness and social isolation in our neighbourhoods. Community connectedness can be increased and doing so can bring about great social and personal benefits to members of the community [14] This is commonly achieved by ensuring accessibility and equity for all groups in the community. Local councils may improve access to home and community care services for people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs and run events such as community festivals that promote community connectedness [15]. Those methods rely on the active participation of community members, and despite best efforts, there are challenges faced in engaging those who are isolated and most in need of these opportunities
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