Condition

Loneliness clinical trials and research

• 41Clinical trials
• 45NIH research projects
• 3New in 30 days
• 16Countries

Newest Loneliness clinical trials

All recruiting trials (41)

• Hangeoreum: a self-paced web program to reduce loneliness for Korean immigrants aged 50 and older

  A self-guided, web-based program based on ACT is being tested to see if it helps Korean immigrants 50+ feel less lonely and more connected.

  Recruiting University of South Florida · Tampa, Florida · NCT07917013

• Intergenerational Interaction Program for Nursing Home Residents and Nursing Students

  A 6-week program pairs nursing home residents with nursing students to see if weekly joint activities can increase joy and reduce loneliness for older adults and lessen ageism in students.

  Recruiting Acibadem University · Istanbul · NCT07904299

• Digital storytelling-based psychoeducation to ease loneliness and boost self-efficacy in adults aged 65–74

  The study tests whether a digital storytelling–based psychoeducation program can reduce loneliness and improve self-efficacy in adults 65 to 74 who participate in the program versus a comparison group.

  Recruiting Eskisehir Osmangazi University · Kütahya, Kütahya · NCT07878715

• Three-agent chat app for lonely older adults in Hong Kong

  This trial tests whether a Cantonese-language smartphone chat app with three conversational companions can help reduce loneliness in adults aged 60 and older in Hong Kong, by comparing a version powered by a large language model to a version using pre-written templates.

  Recruiting The University of Hong Kong · Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR · NCT07822828

• Alive Project: Does group exercise improve social life and health in 75+ women living alone?

  This study tests whether supervised group exercise at fitness clubs helps 75-year-old and older women who live alone feel less lonely and healthier compared to exercising alone or doing usual activities.

  Recruiting Norwegian School of Sport Sciences · Oslo, Oslo · NCT07789080

• Structured social activities to help older adults overcome loneliness

  This study tests whether a personalized plan of two hours per week of community activities can help adults 55 and older who feel lonely feel less lonely over six months.

  Recruiting Endeavor Health · Evanston, Illinois · NCT07708844

• BabaCare: Testing a Care Copilot for lonely older adults

  A new AI voice and text companion called Baba is being tested to see if it can help reduce loneliness and improve mood in older adults who live alone.

  Recruiting Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, Maryland · NCT07689526

• Mindful lifestyle social prescribing for older adults’ mood and connection

  A group program about 8 weeks of mindfulness plus healthy lifestyle activities is tested to see if it helps reduce depressive symptoms and loneliness and improve quality of life in adults aged 55 and over.

  Recruiting Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital · Hualien City, Taiwan · NCT07669805

• Seeing the world from home: using virtual reality travel to help lonely older adults

  A small pilot study will test whether virtual reality travel experiences can help reduce loneliness in people aged 65 and older who are open to trying VR.

  Recruiting at 3 sites Indiana University · Bloomington, Indiana and 2 other locations · NCT07644416

• Stress training and mindfulness via phone-based programs

  Young adults will try different smartphone-based stress-management and mindfulness trainings over 14 days to see which version is easiest to use and how it affects stress and mindfulness.

  Recruiting Equa Health · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT07639697

• Student Precarity and Psychiatry: How Financial Struggles Relate to Depression and Loneliness

  This observational study looks at whether financial hardship and social isolation are linked to depression, suicidal thoughts, and loneliness among French university students.

  Recruiting Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · Paris, IDF · NCT07618208

• Intergenerational Mentoring to Reduce Loneliness and Improve Well-Being

  This project tests intergenerational mentoring between seniors 60+ and youths aged 12–21 in Hamburg to see if it reduces loneliness and improves mental well-being and quality of life.

  Recruiting Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf · Hamburg · NCT07581171

• Reducing loneliness in Hong Kong young adults with Positive Affect groups versus Social Skills training

  This trial will test whether a short group-based Positive Affect program helps reduce loneliness in Hong Kong young adults compared with group social skills training.

  Recruiting Education University of Hong Kong · Hong Kong, Hong Kong · NCT07543653

• Engage Coaching for Loneliness in Older Adults

  A coaching program is tested to see if it helps adults 60 and older feel more connected to people in meaningful ways.

  Recruiting University of Rochester · Rochester, New York · NCT07488559

• Social media diet to reduce loneliness, FoMO, and improve sleep in university students

  This trial will test whether a 4-week social media diet can reduce loneliness and fear of missing out (FoMO) and improve sleep quality in university students who use social media at least 2 hours per day.

  Recruiting Gümüşhane Universıty · Gümüşhane, Gümüşhane Province · NCT07473791

• Timed smartphone support to boost social connections for people waiting for outpatient psychotherapy

  This project tests whether a smartphone-based just-in-time support program can reduce daily depressive symptoms and increase received social support for adults waiting for outpatient psychotherapy.

  Recruiting University of Zurich · Zurich, Canton of Zurich · NCT07471529

• CommunityRx-Dpeer: peer-led support to help dementia caregivers connect with community resources

  This program tests a peer navigator model to help dementia caregivers access personalized community resources and ongoing support over 12 months.

  Recruiting University of Chicago · Chicago, Illinois · NCT07346183

• Loneliness and depression in hospital care

  This project will see if loneliness changes how adults with depression improve during and after inpatient psychiatric treatment by using questionnaires, interviews, and blood, saliva, and stool samples.

  Recruiting Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg · Erlangen, Bavaria and 1 other locations · NCT07333027

• Long-term mental health tracking for medical students

  This project will try to find what makes medical students more likely to develop depression by following cohorts of first-year health students over time and comparing them with peers who did not progress to the second year.

  Recruiting Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans · Orléans, Loiret · NCT07305701

• Weekly sauna visits to build offline connections for 19–22-year-olds

  This pilot will test whether attending a 2-hour sauna once a week for eight weeks can help reduce loneliness in 19–22-year-olds by providing a relaxed social setting.

  Recruiting University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, California · NCT07223099

• Loneliness linked to dementia risk in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

  This study will look to see if loneliness is associated with a higher chance of developing dementia within 12 months in people aged 70 and older who have mild cognitive impairment.

  Recruiting Consorci Sanitari de l'Alt Penedès i Garraf · Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona · NCT07211945

• Adapted Self-Help Plus program to reduce stress and improve well-being in international students

  This project will test whether an adapted Self-Help Plus (SH+) program can reduce stress, anxiety, and mild depressive symptoms and improve social support and adjustment for international students at a U.S. university.

  Recruiting The New School · Brooklyn, New York · NCT07188467

• How group-based support affects student well-being, stress biology, and DNA markers

  This project will test if the Groups 4 Health program helps University of Helsinki students feel less lonely and changes stress-related biological markers.

  Recruiting University of Helsinki · Helsinki, Uusimaa · NCT07152652

• Six-week group program to boost well-being and social connections for university students

  This program tries a six-week group course to improve social relationships, reduce loneliness, and boost psychological well-being for University of Padua students.

  Recruiting University of Padova · Padova, Padova · NCT07147712

• Alleviating Loneliness for Older Adults in Poverty with a Multi-Level Approach

  This trial tests a multi-level program to reduce loneliness among Hong Kong Chinese adults aged 65+ living in poverty.

  Recruiting Education University of Hong Kong · Hong Kong · NCT07123064

• CONNECT program: group telehealth to reduce loneliness and improve mental health in adults 55+

  This project will test whether the group-based CONNECT telehealth program can reduce loneliness, social isolation, anxiety, and depression in adults 55 and older compared with routine community programming.

  Recruiting University of Manitoba · Winnipeg, Manitoba · NCT07107906

• Adding loneliness-focused lessons to the Wellbeing Course online CBT

  We will test whether adding loneliness-focused lessons to an online CBT course helps adults in Saskatchewan with depression or anxiety who often feel lonely.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University of Regina · Regina, Saskatchewan and 1 other locations · NCT07095582

• Social Prescribing in Vesterbro-Sydhavnen: linking patients to community support

  This project will try social prescribing with adults in Vesterbro-Sydhavnen who have complex health or social needs to see if connecting them to community services reduces loneliness and urgent healthcare use.

  Recruiting Hvidovre University Hospital · Copenhagen · NCT07029334

• Reducing loneliness in older adults by enhancing positive emotions

  This project will test whether two phone-based programs—one that boosts positive emotions and one that encourages valued activities—can reduce loneliness in Cantonese-speaking adults aged 65 and older in Hong Kong.

  Recruiting Education University of Hong Kong · Hong Kong, Hong Kong · NCT07021872

• Virtual Life Story Club to reduce loneliness and apathy in older adults

  This project will try weekly virtual Life Story Club reminiscence sessions for 12 weeks to see if they reduce loneliness and apathy in community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older without dementia.

  Recruiting Montefiore Medical Center · The Bronx, New York · NCT06919094

• Program to help older adults living alone recover from limb injuries

  This study tests a new program led by nurse practitioners to help older adults living alone recover from limb injuries and improve their overall health and well-being.

  Recruiting Kaohsiung Medical University · Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung · NCT06902636

• Community intervention to reduce loneliness in older adults

  This study is testing a program to see if it can help older adults living alone in La Palma feel less lonely and improve their overall health by boosting social connections and teaching healthy habits.

  Recruiting Servicio Canario de Salud · Santa Cruz de La Palma · NCT06829758

• Community program to reduce loneliness in young adults

  This study tests a community program with social activities to see if it can help reduce loneliness in young adults living in urban areas.

  Recruiting Queen Mary University of London · London and 1 other locations · NCT06805136

• Monitoring mental health in university students using digital tools

  This study is trying to see if using wearable devices and smartphones can help track the mental health of university students by looking at their activity and sleep patterns over six months.

  Recruiting Nanyang Technological University · Singapore · NCT06770075

• Using tDCS to reduce loneliness in older adults with depression

  This study is testing if a brain stimulation technique can help reduce feelings of loneliness in older adults who are dealing with depression.

  Recruiting Guangzhou Psychiatric Hospital · Guangzhou, Guangdong · NCT06658795

• Rehabilitation for stroke patients using nature-based therapies

  This study tests if nature-based rehabilitation can help people who have recently had a stroke recover better than those who only do light physical activity.

  Recruiting Joint Authority for Päijät-Häme Social and Health Care · Lahti · NCT06633146

• A new approach to reduce loneliness in adults

  This study is trying a new 6-session program to see if it can help adults feel less lonely and improve their mood.

  Recruiting Education University of Hong Kong · Hong Kong · NCT06521099

• Need to Be Needed (N2BN): a program to boost feeling of being needed

  This study will test whether weekly, personalized support to help adults with serious mental illness do acts of kindness and volunteer can reduce loneliness and social isolation.

  Recruiting Temple University · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · NCT06510439

• Intervention for opioid use disorder and loneliness

  This study is testing whether different types of therapy can help people with opioid use disorder who feel lonely improve their social connections and overall health.

  Recruiting University of Rochester · Rochester, New York · NCT06458335

• Using virtual reality to promote physical activity and social connection in adults

  This study is testing whether using virtual reality can help adults aged 45-80 who are not very active to get moving and connect with others while exercising from home.

  Recruiting Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, North Carolina · NCT04756245

• Exploring how the brain represents social connections and loneliness

  This study looks at how loneliness shows up in the brain to see if understanding it better can help people feel less lonely, even if they have social connections.

  Recruiting Columbia University · New York, New York · NCT04577911

NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 45)

Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.

• Social virtual reality to tackle loneliness in older men with HIV

  A new virtual reality program designed for older men living with HIV to connect with others and reduce loneliness, with the goal of improving health and daily well‑being.

  NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11470637

• ADRD spousal caregivers: real-time loneliness and immune links

  A real-world study will follow 300 spouses caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias to understand how loneliness, social isolation, and daily stress relate to immune and cellular aging.

  NIH research Rice University · Houston, United States · NIH-11457084

• Understanding loneliness in stroke survivors to improve care

  A study will identify different loneliness risk profiles in adults who had a stroke or TIA to help tailor support and interventions.

  NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-11450888

• New daily loneliness indicators and aging outcomes

  Researchers are studying how day-to-day loneliness affects aging and health in adults, to uncover how loneliness might speed up biological aging and functional decline.

  NIH research Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · Scottsdale, United States · NIH-11434934

• Understanding how the brain and thinking shape loneliness in adults

  This grant studies how brain processes and thoughts create loneliness in adults and could help develop ways to reduce loneliness and its health risks.

  NIH research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · New York, United States · NIH-11401424

• How loneliness and culture shape risky drinking patterns

  This grant explores why loneliness and cultural context influence risky drinking, with goals to help people in diverse communities understand and reduce problematic alcohol use.

  NIH research University of Houston · Houston, United States · NIH-11396959

• Understanding loneliness and social isolation in autistic young adults

  A long-term study will follow autistic young adults to see how life changes like going to college, starting jobs, or moving homes affect loneliness and social connections.

  NIH research Drexel University · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11394026

• How social connections and loneliness affect thinking in older adults

  A study of how feeling lonely and actually having few social contacts influence thinking skills and risk of dementia in older adults.

  NIH research Northwestern University · Chicago, United States · NIH-11393680

• Loneliness, social isolation, and alcohol/drug use over time in U.S. adults

  This project follows U.S. adults ages 30–80 over eight years to see how loneliness, social connections, and alcohol or drug use change together.

  NIH research Rand Corporation · Santa Monica, United States · NIH-11392985

• Trajectories of loneliness and social isolation in older adults with HIV who use methamphetamine

  This study follows older adults living with HIV who use methamphetamine to understand how loneliness and isolation change over time and relate to health care use and wellbeing.

  NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11382958

• Understanding how social isolation and loneliness affect brain health in Alzheimer’s risk

  This research looks at how feeling isolated or lonely and the social environment might influence brain changes related to Alzheimer’s disease in adults.

  NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11381583

• How loneliness affects drug use and HIV risk in gay and bisexual men

  This project looks at whether feeling lonely contributes to using multiple drugs and to HIV-related risks among gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men in the United States and Canada.

  NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-11367303

• Social factors and brain health: how loneliness and social support affect stroke risk and recovery

  Researchers will study how social isolation and lack of support influence brain injury, stroke risk, and recovery in people over 21, using long-term data from large population studies.

  NIH research Boston University Medical Campus · Boston, United States · NIH-11347561

• Dyadic approach to reduce stress and loneliness in breast cancer survivors and families

  A family-focused program helps breast cancer survivors and their caregivers cope with stress and isolation using a web-based, collaborative approach.

  NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11314527

• Using smartphones to spot isolation and loneliness linked to Alzheimer’s risk

  This project uses brief smartphone surveys and passive phone sensors to find patterns of loneliness and social isolation that may signal higher Alzheimer's risk in older adults with normal thinking.

  NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11297690

• Understanding loneliness and social isolation in people with dementia

  This project looks at how feeling lonely and having fewer social contacts affects people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and their caregivers.

  NIH research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · New York, United States · NIH-11265779

• Using AI on health record notes to find loneliness and suicide risk in older adults

  This project uses artificial intelligence to read doctors' notes and medical records to spot loneliness and help reduce suicide risk for older adults.

  NIH research Emory University · Atlanta, United States · NIH-11231275

• Understanding loneliness in young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis

  This study is looking at how feeling lonely affects young people aged 14-30 who are going through their first episode of psychosis, and it hopes to find ways to help them feel better and recover by understanding their daily experiences with loneliness and stigma.

  NIH research Boston University (Charles River Campus) · Boston, United States · NIH-11161950

• Helping caregivers of Alzheimer's patients feel less lonely

  This study is all about helping caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias feel more fulfilled and less lonely by using technology and special support strategies, so they can enjoy a better quality of life.

  NIH research Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · Manhasset, United States · NIH-11130976

• Creating a smart speaker system to assess loneliness in older adults at home

  This study is testing a smart speaker system that helps find out if older adults living alone feel lonely, using technology to listen and observe their daily activities without them having to say anything, and it’s designed for people aged 65 and older.

  NIH research Emory University · Atlanta, United States · NIH-11115789

• Helping South Asian families cope with breast cancer-related stress and isolation

  This study is creating a special support program for South Asian breast cancer survivors and their caregivers to help them cope with stress and feelings of loneliness, while also respecting their cultural values and family dynamics.

  NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11114780

• How loneliness and social surroundings affect the brain and dementia risk

  Researchers will link loneliness, social isolation, and neighborhood factors to brain changes and dementia risk in adults using brain scans, molecular markers, and machine learning.

  NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11113886

• Understanding social isolation and loneliness in serious mental health conditions

  This project aims to better understand why people with serious mental health conditions often feel socially isolated and lonely, using advanced brain imaging and digital tools.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11111365

• Exploring how loneliness and environments affect cognition in older adults with HIV

  This study is looking at how social and physical surroundings, feelings of loneliness, and brain health are connected for older adults living with HIV, and it aims to find ways to improve their well-being by listening to their experiences.

  NIH research Northeastern University · Boston, United States · NIH-11085600

• Primary care loneliness programs to prevent suicide

  This project will try two short loneliness programs—social prescribing and brief cognitive therapy—in primary care to help adults who feel lonely and may have suicidal thoughts.

  NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11084462

• How loneliness affects brain aging and Alzheimer's disease risk

  This study is looking at how feeling lonely might affect the brains of older adults who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease, hoping to find clues that could help us understand and predict changes in brain health.

  NIH research Mcgill University · Montreal, Canada · NIH-11081953

• Understanding loneliness through computer modeling

  This study is looking at how loneliness affects our health by combining ideas from psychology and sociology, and it hopes to help people understand and tackle loneliness better, which could lead to new ways to support those who feel lonely and may be struggling with anxiety or depression.

  NIH research University of Virginia · Charlottesville, United States · NIH-11068681

• Helping primary care patients on opioids feel less lonely to prevent misuse.

  This study is looking for people with chronic pain who take opioids and often feel lonely, to see if special programs can help them connect with others and feel better, which might also lower the chances of misusing their medication.

  NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11052606

• Using digital health records to predict suicide risk in older adults based on loneliness and social isolation.

  This study is looking at how feeling lonely or isolated can make older adults more likely to think about suicide, and it uses advanced technology to better spot those at risk so they can get help sooner.

  NIH research Emory University · Atlanta, United States · NIH-11038964

• Understanding how social isolation and loneliness affect mental health

  This study is looking at how feeling lonely and isolated affects people with serious mental illnesses, using brain scans and smartphone check-ins to learn more about how these feelings impact their daily lives and overall health.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11012904

• Understanding loneliness in adolescents with autism and typical development

  This study looks at what makes teenagers, especially those with autism, feel lonely and how their friendships and thoughts play a role, so we can better understand and help them during this important time in their lives.

  NIH research Univ of Maryland, College Park · College Park, United States · NIH-10983315

• How social isolation and loneliness in early life affect brain development and addiction risk

  This study looks at how feeling lonely or isolated when you're young can affect your brain and behavior as you grow up, especially in teens and young adults, and it uses animal models to understand how things like sleep problems and inflammation in the brain play a role.

  NIH research Old Dominion University · Norfolk, United States · NIH-10976653

• Understanding the brain mechanisms behind loneliness

  This study is looking at how our brains and thinking affect feelings of loneliness and social isolation, with the hope of finding new ways to help people feel more connected and less lonely.

  NIH research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · New York, United States · NIH-10923384

• Exploring how isolation and loneliness affect alcohol use during stressful times.

  This study looks at how feeling lonely and isolated, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, affects how much alcohol people drink, and it explores whether certain coping strategies can help or make things worse. If you're an adult who has experienced these feelings, your insights could help us understand these import

  NIH research University of Connecticut Storrs · Storrs-Mansfield, United States · NIH-10916345

• Understanding how social connections can improve heart health and reduce loneliness

  This study is looking at how making new friends during big life changes can affect feelings of loneliness and heart health, and it's for anyone interested in understanding why some people adjust better than others when it comes to social connections.

  NIH research Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-10899008

• Improving cardiovascular health by reducing loneliness through physical activity for military personnel transitioning to civilian life

  This study is looking for ways to help military personnel who are transitioning back to civilian life feel less lonely and more connected, while also encouraging them to be active, so they can improve their heart health and overall well-being.

  NIH research Old Dominion University · Norfolk, United States · NIH-10893027

• Understanding how social isolation and loneliness affect people with serious mental illness

  This study is looking at how feeling lonely and isolated affects people with serious mental illnesses, using brain scans and smartphone check-ins to understand their daily lives better, with the hope of finding ways to help improve their well-being.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-10875521

• Exploring loneliness and social isolation in older adults with and without Alzheimer's disease.

  This study looks at how feeling lonely or being socially isolated affects the health and happiness of older adults, especially those nearing the end of life, including those with Alzheimer's and related conditions, to help improve their overall well-being.

  NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-10873311

• Understanding loneliness in older adults with schizophrenia

  This study is looking at how feeling lonely affects older adults with schizophrenia and their overall health and happiness, and it includes both those with schizophrenia and others their age without mental health issues to see how their experiences compare.

  NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-10868738

• How loneliness affects brain aging and Alzheimer's disease risk

  This study is looking at how feeling lonely might affect brain health as we age, especially for older adults who are at risk for Alzheimer's, to help us understand if loneliness can lead to changes in the brain and speed up memory problems.

  NIH research Mcgill University · Montreal, Canada · NIH-10836473

Related topics

Quick answers

How many Loneliness clinical trials are recruiting right now?

41, as of November 12, 2026. 3 of them were first registered in the last 30 days. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where are these trials running?

In 16 countries. The most sites are in United States (14 trials), Hong Kong (5 trials), Turkey (Türkiye) (3 trials), Taiwan (2 trials), Canada (2 trials). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.

How do I join one?

Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.

Find the studies that fit you

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