Delivering an innovative community-based intervention to reduce loneliness in young and working-age adults: implementation potential

Delivering an innovative community-based intervention to reduce loneliness in young and working-age adults: implementation potential | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Short Report Delivering an innovative community-based intervention to reduce loneliness in young and working-age adults: implementation potential Catarina Duarte, Nia Morrish, David Gradon, Amilah Niaz, Antonieta Medina-Lara, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7979249/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose The Great Friendship Project (TGFP) is a community-based intervention designed to reduce loneliness among young adults in London. This study explores which population groups TGFP reaches to begin to inform implementation potential. Methods TGFP gathered data from a consecutive cohort of 3,416 members. Descriptive analyses examined demographics and engagement patterns, and multiple linear regression assessed associations between demographic variables and engagement. Results TGFP reaches sub-groups particularly vulnerable to loneliness, with over half of its members coming from ethnic minority backgrounds (53.2%) and male (55.8%). Conclusion TGFP effectively reaches hard-to-reach populations, highlighting potential to address loneliness on a wider scale. Loneliness young adults social interaction community intervention Figures Figure 1 Introduction Loneliness is a distressing subjective feeling arising from a perceived deficit in the quantity and/or quality of social relationships [ 1 ]. It is distinct to social isolation, which refers to objective physical isolation [ 2 ]. While often associated with older adults, there is growing recognition that young, working-age adults are especially vulnerable to loneliness [ 3 ]. In 2022, loneliness affected nearly a quarter (24%) of young adults aged 18–24 in the UK [ 4 ], and those aged 25–34, were more likely to report feeling lonely ‘often’ or ‘always’ compared to other age groups [ 5 ]. Peaks in loneliness during young adulthood can reflect age-normative transitions, [ 6 ], bringing a transitory nature. However, for some, it may evolve into a more severe experience [ 7 ]. This is associated, possibly trans-diagnostically, with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation [ 8 – 10 ]. In turn, this can impact physical and cognitive health, including poor sleep and inflammation [ 11 , 12 ]. Furthermore, in 2022, 48% of adults reported that feeling lonely makes them ‘less likely to want to progress in work’ [ 13 ]. Over time, these effects may contribute to financial costs for society and create social disparities between individuals [ 14 , 15 ]. Certain sociodemographic factors may further increase the risk of loneliness. Some research found that loneliness is more common among men, but findings are mixed, as others argue that while men may not experience higher levels of loneliness, they are more likely to hold self-stigmatising beliefs, which can make them reluctant to seek help [ 16 ]. Minoritised ethnic groups may also be at increased risk of loneliness, possibly due to cumulative exposure to victimisation and discrimination contributing to increased feelings of social disconnection [ 17 ]. Loneliness may also be shaped by contextual, place-based factors, though evidence in this area remains mixed. Some studies have reported higher levels of loneliness in urban areas over rural areas [ 18 ] due to lower social cohesion. However, other research suggests that it may depend more on whether an area facilitates or hinders social interaction [ 19 , 20 ]. Community-based social interventions that aim to increase opportunities for social interaction have shown to be both suitable and cost-effective in reducing loneliness [ 21 ]. However, most have been designed with older adults in mind [ 22 ] and may not be effective or even appealing to young adults [ 23 ]. Given the varied nature of loneliness, there is a clear need for age-appropriate interventions, particularly those from vulnerable sub-groups. The Great Friendship Project (TGFP) is a social intervention that launched in 2021 to help tackle loneliness among adults aged 18–40 years old across London, England. TGFP aims to a) provide social opportunities for members to overcome loneliness, b) foster a sense of belonging and increase engagement in the local community, and c) improve the mental health of young adults in London. It offers in-person community events that are free or at cost (from £5 to £20), held around four times a week, and cater for diverse interests (e.g., board games and cooking classes). A formative logic model to describe the inputs, activities, mechanisms of change, outcomes and impacts of TGFP has been developed (Fig. 1). This study aims to explore which population groups TGFP is reaching, particularly whether it is engaging individuals more vulnerable to loneliness or typically harder to reach. Methods Data Collection TGFP gathered data from a consecutive cohort of 3,416 members who enrolled between January 2023 and March 2025. During enrolment, members were asked to provide demographic information including age, gender, and ethnicity using a standardised response category. TGFP also recorded registration date, the number of events each member signed up for and attended. Ethical approval was sought from Queen Mary University of London to analyse de-identified data shared by TGFP. TGFP had already sought consent from new members to gather and share these anonymized data with universities to gain a better understanding of the demographic reach of the programme and explore patterns in engagement over time and across different groups. Data were collected and stored securely in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). Data Analysis Descriptive analyses explored demographics and engagement. Gender was coded as male or female, with responses “prefer not to say” treated as missing. Ethnicity was grouped into four categories, in line with the ONS: Asian/Asian British, Black/Black British/Caribbean/African, Other Ethnic Group, and White. Age was categorized into six groups ( 40). Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables (gender, ethnicity), while means, medians, and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables (age, number of events attended). To assess the association between demographic variables and engagement, a standard multiple regression analysis was conducted with gender, ethnicity, and age as predictors of the overall number of events attended. All variables were entered simultaneously into the model in a single block. An additional simple linear regression was conducted using age as a continuous variable. Statistical significance was evaluated at α = 0.05. Assumptions of linear regression, including normality of residuals, homoscedasticity, and multicollinearity were examined. All analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29. Results Age data were available for 3400 members; ethnicity data for 3347 members; and gender data for 3406 members. Just over half identified as male (54.5%), and 55.1% belonged to ethnic minority groups, the largest being Asian/Asian British (36.8%). Most members were aged between 25–29 (41.2%), followed by 30–34 years (26.6%). 2 Event attendance ranged from 0–84 events between January 2023 and March 2025; the mean number of events attended was 2.3; and the median number of events was 1. The multiple regression model for event attendance was significant, F (3, 852) = 10.51, p < 0.001 and demographic variables accounted for a small but statistically significant proportion of the variance, R² = 0.036, Adjusted R² = 0.033. Residuals were approximately normal as reflected in a histogram and P–P plot; mild heteroscedasticity was observed. Multicollinearity was not a concern (VIF 1.0–1.2; Tolerance > 0.2). Gender significantly predicted attendance, with female members attending 0.79 ( SE = 0.17, β = 0.09, t = 4.51 p < .001) more events than males. Age significantly predicted attendance ( B = -0.04, SE = 0.02, β = -0.05, t = -2.39, p = .017), with younger members attending slightly more events. The findings did not suggest a clear age threshold; instead, attendance gradually declined with increasing age. Ethnicity was not a significant predictor ( B = 0.02, SE = 0.06, β = 0.01, t = 0.35, p = .727). Discussion Loneliness is a growing public health priority, particularly among subgroups who experience it disproportionately. Young adults, especially those from marginalised or minoritised groups, face unique challenges often overlooked in current loneliness interventions, which typically adopt a “one-size-fits-all” approach or target older populations [ 24 ]. TGFP was developed as a community-based intervention aimed at reducing loneliness among young and working-age adults in London. While the membership of TGFP is now over 45,000, it is notable that the mean and median number of events attended by members was 2.3 and 1 respectively. This number appears low and unclear whether this is sufficient to reduce loneliness levels. A study tracking loneliness pre-to-post intervention is needed to assess the extent of change in perceived social connectedness. It may also be that these activity-based programmes that also encourage social connection - not dissimilar to social prescribing components - are not enjoyed by all individuals. It may be that only those who do enjoy these experiences correspond to reductions in loneliness. It is clear from the evaluation of loneliness interventions that one size does not fit all. The data analysis presented indicates that TGFP is successfully engaging males and those from ethnic minority groups, two groups who have either not sought help or at-risk for loneliness. With 36.3% of the intervention sample being from Asian/Asian British ethnic backgrounds, engagement appeared strong, especially as they comprise 20.7% of the London general population [ 25 ]. Broader ethnic minority representation within TGFP (55.1%) also surpassed that of London’s population overall (46.2%), highlighting the programme’s potential to reach underserved communities. Although TGFP reaches a large proportion of men (54.5%), the analysis showed that female members attended significantly more events, thought the difference was modest. Age also predicted attendance, with younger members attending more frequently, although this effect was also small. Ethnicity was not a predictor, indicating that once individuals engaged with TGFP, participation levels were consistent across minority versus majority ethnic groups. Overall, the small differences observed by gender and age, alongside the lack of variation by ethnicity, indicate that these protected characteristics are not barriers to participation. This pattern points to equitable access across diverse populations. These findings are encouraging, as they suggest that TGFP may be successfully overcoming common barriers to engagement among subgroups typically harder to reach. Conclusion This report highlights the importance of accessible, community-based interventions to address loneliness among young adults. TGFP offers a promising approach, particularly those from vulnerable subgroup populations, in efforts to reduce loneliness. While further evaluation is needed, initial findings highlight its potential as an effective intervention for young adults in London. Abbreviations TGFP The Great Friendship Project UK GDPR UK General Data Protection Regulation Declarations Ethics: (Reference number: QME24. 0661): "(...) The proposed work has been deemed low-risk and will not require the scrutiny of the full Queen Mary Ethics of Research Committee. It has been reviewed and I am pleased to inform you that, based on the information provided, the above study has been approved. Date of Approval: 18/09/2024 Competing Interests The director and founder of ‘The Great Friendship Project’ is a key stakeholder in this study. The remaining authors have no conflict of interest and have ensured that the data is reported accurately. Funding: This study is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the UKRI Creating Opportunities Evaluation Development Fund (APP19330). Author Contribution Data analysis was performed by CD. The first draft was written by CD and all authors commented, edited and added to the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgement Data used in this article were obtained from The Great Friendship Project. Data Availability De-identified data will be available via ReShare, a UK Data Service platform, providing secure long-term storage and access for datasets in line with FAIR standards (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable Re-usable). References Peplau LA, Perlman D, Loneliness (1982) A sourcebook of current theory, research, and therapy. (No Title). May 12 Weiss R, Loneliness (1975) The experience of emotional and social isolation. MIT Press. Apr 15 Office for National Statistics (ONS) released 12 January 2024, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: 13 December 2023 to 1 January 2024 Ibbetson C (2019) WHo are the most lonely people in the UK? | YouGov [Internet]. yougov.co.uk. Available from: https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/25089-young-britons-are-most-lonely Gov.UK. Community Life Survey 2021/22: Wellbeing and Loneliness [Internet]. GOV.UK. (2023) Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-life-survey-202122/community-life-survey-202122-wellbeing-and-loneliness Hawkley LC, Buecker S, Kaiser T, Luhmann M (2022) Loneliness from young adulthood to old age: Explaining age differences in loneliness. Int J Behav Dev 46(1):39–49 Office for National Statistics (ONS) released 12 January 2024, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: 13 December 2023 to 1 January 2024 Alam I, Khayri E, Podger TA, Aspinall C, Fuhrmann D, Lau JY (2024) A call for better research and resources for understanding and combatting youth loneliness: integrating the perspectives of young people and researchers. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 33(3):939–942 Stravynski A, Boyer R (2001) Loneliness in relation to suicide ideation and parasuicide: A population-wide study. Suicide life-threatening Behav 31(1):32–40 Deniro DA (1995) Perceived alienation in individs with residual-type schizophrenia. Issues Ment Health Nurs 16(3):185–200 Singer C (2018) Health effects of social isolation and loneliness. J Aging Life Care 28:4–8 Hawkley LC, Masi CM, Berry JD, Cacioppo JT (2006) Loneliness is a unique predictor of age-related differences in systolic blood pressure. Psychol Aging 21(1):152 Foundation C-O (2022) A Friend in Need (PDF) Meisters R, Westra D, Putrik P, Bosma H, Ruwaard D, Jansen M (2021) Does loneliness have a cost? A population-wide study of the association between loneliness and healthcare expenditure. Int J public health 66:581286 Mihalopoulos C, Le LK, Chatterton ML, Bucholc J, Holt-Lunstad J, Lim MH, Engel L (2020) The economic costs of loneliness: a review of cost-of-illness and economic evaluation studies. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 55(7):823–836 Barreto M, Victor C, Hammond C, Eccles A, Richins MT, Qualter P (2021) Loneliness around the world: Age, gender, and cultural differences in loneliness. Pers Indiv Differ 169:110066 Salway S, Such E, Preston L, Booth A, Zubair M, Victor C, Raghavan R (2020) Reducing loneliness among migrant and ethnic minority people: a participatory evidence synthesis. Public Health Res 8(10):1–246 ‌ Beere P, Keeling S, Jamieson H (2019) Ageing, loneliness, and the geographic distribution of New Zealand's interRAI-HC cohort. Soc Sci Med 227:84–92 Reed S, Bohr J (2021) The influence of local built environments on social wellbeing: A community’s experience with social isolation, social loneliness, and social belonging. Int J Community Well-Being 4(3):393–413 Bergefurt L, Kemperman A, van Den Berg P, Borgers A, van Der Waerden P, Oosterhuis G, Hommel M (2019) Loneliness and life satisfaction explained by public-space use and mobility patterns. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(21):4282 Noone C, Yang K (2022) Community-based responses to loneliness in older people: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Health Soc Care Commun 30(4):e859–e873 Beam CR, Kim AJ (2020) Psychological sequelae of social isolation and loneliness might be a larger problem in young adults than older adults. Psychological trauma: Theory, research, practice, and policy. ;12(S1):S58 Shah HA, Househ M (2023) Understanding loneliness in younger people: Review of the opportunities and challenges for loneliness interventions. Interact J Med Res 12(1):e45197 Akhter-Khan SC, Au R (2020) Why loneliness interventions are unsuccessful: A call for precision health. Adv geriatric Med Res 2(3):e200016 Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2021) released 29 November 2022, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Ethnic group. Census, England and Wales Footnotes The logic model was developed based on programme documentation, early stakeholder input and refined with a focus group of four current TGFP members. Age data were available for 3400 members; ethnicity data for 3347 members; and gender data for 3406 members. Remaining data (n = 10) were missing. Additional Declarations Competing interest reported. The director and founder of ‘The Great Friendship Project’ is a key stakeholder in this study. The remaining authors have no conflict of interest and have ensured that the data is reported accurately. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":256942,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLogic model of The Great Friendship Project (TGFP) community-based social intervention\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7979249/v1/97b1e3a8d45425e7d8980fb1.png"},{"id":103143475,"identity":"4c6b7476-eb44-464a-8a6a-fdce5e598d89","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-21 20:09:28","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":770299,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7979249/v1/b0c75af4-eebe-4d21-a1c1-781216c2d346.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"Competing interest reported. The director and founder of ‘The Great Friendship Project’ is a key stakeholder in this study. The remaining authors have no conflict of interest and have ensured that the data is reported accurately.","formattedTitle":"Delivering an innovative community-based intervention to reduce loneliness in young and working-age adults: implementation potential","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eLoneliness is a distressing subjective feeling arising from a perceived deficit in the quantity and/or quality of social relationships [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. It is distinct to social isolation, which refers to objective physical isolation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. While often associated with older adults, there is growing recognition that young, working-age adults are especially vulnerable to loneliness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. In 2022, loneliness affected nearly a quarter (24%) of young adults aged 18\u0026ndash;24 in the UK [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], and those aged 25\u0026ndash;34, were more likely to report feeling lonely \u0026lsquo;often\u0026rsquo; or \u0026lsquo;always\u0026rsquo; compared to other age groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaks in loneliness during young adulthood can reflect age-normative transitions, [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e], bringing a transitory nature. However, for some, it may evolve into a more severe experience [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. This is associated, possibly trans-diagnostically, with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR9\" citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. In turn, this can impact physical and cognitive health, including poor sleep and inflammation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Furthermore, in 2022, 48% of adults reported that feeling lonely makes them \u0026lsquo;less likely to want to progress in work\u0026rsquo; [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. Over time, these effects may contribute to financial costs for society and create social disparities between individuals [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCertain sociodemographic factors may further increase the risk of loneliness. Some research found that loneliness is more common among men, but findings are mixed, as others argue that while men may not experience higher levels of loneliness, they are more likely to hold self-stigmatising beliefs, which can make them reluctant to seek help [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Minoritised ethnic groups may also be at increased risk of loneliness, possibly due to cumulative exposure to victimisation and discrimination contributing to increased feelings of social disconnection [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Loneliness may also be shaped by contextual, place-based factors, though evidence in this area remains mixed. Some studies have reported higher levels of loneliness in urban areas over rural areas [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e] due to lower social cohesion. However, other research suggests that it may depend more on whether an area facilitates or hinders social interaction [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCommunity-based social interventions that aim to increase opportunities for social interaction have shown to be both suitable and cost-effective in reducing loneliness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. However, most have been designed with older adults in mind [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e] and may not be effective or even appealing to young adults [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]. Given the varied nature of loneliness, there is a clear need for age-appropriate interventions, particularly those from vulnerable sub-groups.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Great Friendship Project (TGFP) is a social intervention that launched in 2021 to help tackle loneliness among adults aged 18\u0026ndash;40 years old across London, England. TGFP aims to a) provide social opportunities for members to overcome loneliness, b) foster a sense of belonging and increase engagement in the local community, and c) improve the mental health of young adults in London. It offers in-person community events that are free or at cost (from \u0026pound;5 to \u0026pound;20), held around four times a week, and cater for diverse interests (e.g., board games and cooking classes). A formative logic model to describe the inputs, activities, mechanisms of change, outcomes and impacts of TGFP has been developed (Fig.\u0026nbsp;1).\u003ca class=\"FNLink\" href=\"#Fn1\" id=\"#FNLinkFn1\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e This study aims to explore which population groups TGFP is reaching, particularly whether it is engaging individuals more vulnerable to loneliness or typically harder to reach.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\n \u003ch2\u003eData Collection\u003c/h2\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTGFP gathered data from a consecutive cohort of 3,416 members who enrolled between January 2023 and March 2025. During enrolment, members were asked to provide demographic information including age, gender, and ethnicity using a standardised response category. TGFP also recorded registration date, the number of events each member signed up for and attended. Ethical approval was sought from Queen Mary University of London to analyse de-identified data shared by TGFP. TGFP had already sought consent from new members to gather and share these anonymized data with universities to gain a better understanding of the demographic reach of the programme and explore patterns in engagement over time and across different groups. Data were collected and stored securely in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\n \u003ch2\u003eData Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDescriptive analyses explored demographics and engagement. Gender was coded as male or female, with responses \u0026ldquo;prefer not to say\u0026rdquo; treated as missing. Ethnicity was grouped into four categories, in line with the ONS: Asian/Asian British, Black/Black British/Caribbean/African, Other Ethnic Group, and White. Age was categorized into six groups (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;20, 20\u0026ndash;24, 25\u0026ndash;29, 30\u0026ndash;34, 35\u0026ndash;40, \u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;40). Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables (gender, ethnicity), while means, medians, and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables (age, number of events attended).\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTo assess the association between demographic variables and engagement, a standard multiple regression analysis was conducted with gender, ethnicity, and age as predictors of the overall number of events attended.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAll variables were entered simultaneously into the model in a single block. An additional simple linear regression was conducted using age as a continuous variable. Statistical significance was evaluated at \u0026alpha;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAssumptions of linear regression, including normality of residuals, homoscedasticity, and multicollinearity were examined. All analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eAge data were available for 3400 members; ethnicity data for 3347 members; and gender data for 3406 members. Just over half identified as male (54.5%), and 55.1% belonged to ethnic minority groups, the largest being Asian/Asian British (36.8%). Most members were aged between 25\u0026ndash;29 (41.2%), followed by 30\u0026ndash;34 years (26.6%).\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvent attendance ranged from 0\u0026ndash;84 events between January 2023 and March 2025; the mean number of events attended was 2.3; and the median number of events was 1.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe multiple regression model for event attendance was significant, \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e(3, 852)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10.51, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001 and demographic variables accounted for a small but statistically significant proportion of the variance, \u003cem\u003eR\u0026sup2;\u003c/em\u003e = 0.036, Adjusted \u003cem\u003eR\u0026sup2;\u003c/em\u003e = 0.033. Residuals were approximately normal as reflected in a histogram and P\u0026ndash;P plot; mild heteroscedasticity was observed. Multicollinearity was not a concern (VIF 1.0\u0026ndash;1.2; Tolerance\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.2). Gender significantly predicted attendance, with female members attending 0.79 (\u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.17, β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.09, t\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.51 \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001) more events than males. Age significantly predicted attendance (\u003cem\u003eB\u003c/em\u003e = -0.04, \u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02, \u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e = -0.05, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e = -2.39, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.017), with younger members attending slightly more events. The findings did not suggest a clear age threshold; instead, attendance gradually declined with increasing age. Ethnicity was not a significant predictor (\u003cem\u003eB\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02, \u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.06, \u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.01, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.35, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.727).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eLoneliness is a growing public health priority, particularly among subgroups who experience it disproportionately. Young adults, especially those from marginalised or minoritised groups, face unique challenges often overlooked in current loneliness interventions, which typically adopt a \u0026ldquo;one-size-fits-all\u0026rdquo; approach or target older populations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTGFP was developed as a community-based intervention aimed at reducing loneliness among young and working-age adults in London. While the membership of TGFP is now over 45,000, it is notable that the mean and median number of events attended by members was 2.3 and 1 respectively. This number appears low and unclear whether this is sufficient to reduce loneliness levels. A study tracking loneliness pre-to-post intervention is needed to assess the extent of change in perceived social connectedness. It may also be that these activity-based programmes that also encourage social connection - not dissimilar to social prescribing components - are not enjoyed by all individuals. It may be that only those who do enjoy these experiences correspond to reductions in loneliness. It is clear from the evaluation of loneliness interventions that one size does not fit all.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe data analysis presented indicates that TGFP is successfully engaging males and those from ethnic minority groups, two groups who have either not sought help or at-risk for loneliness. With 36.3% of the intervention sample being from Asian/Asian British ethnic backgrounds, engagement appeared strong, especially as they comprise 20.7% of the London general population [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. Broader ethnic minority representation within TGFP (55.1%) also surpassed that of London\u0026rsquo;s population overall (46.2%), highlighting the programme\u0026rsquo;s potential to reach underserved communities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough TGFP reaches a large proportion of men (54.5%), the analysis showed that female members attended significantly more events, thought the difference was modest. Age also predicted attendance, with younger members attending more frequently, although this effect was also small. Ethnicity was not a predictor, indicating that once individuals engaged with TGFP, participation levels were consistent across minority versus majority ethnic groups.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOverall, the small differences observed by gender and age, alongside the lack of variation by ethnicity, indicate that these protected characteristics are not barriers to participation. This pattern points to equitable access across diverse populations. These findings are encouraging, as they suggest that TGFP may be successfully overcoming common barriers to engagement among subgroups typically harder to reach.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis report highlights the importance of accessible, community-based interventions to address loneliness among young adults. TGFP offers a promising approach, particularly those from vulnerable subgroup populations, in efforts to reduce loneliness. While further evaluation is needed, initial findings highlight its potential as an effective intervention for young adults in London.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionList\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTGFP\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Great Friendship Project\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eUK GDPR\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUK General Data Protection Regulation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Ethics: (Reference number: QME24. 0661):\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"(...) The proposed work has been deemed low-risk and will not require the scrutiny of the full Queen Mary Ethics of Research Committee. It has been reviewed and I am pleased to inform you that, based on the information provided, the above study has been approved. Date of Approval: 18/09/2024\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting Interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe director and founder of \u0026lsquo;The Great Friendship Project\u0026rsquo; is a key stakeholder in this study. The remaining authors have no conflict of interest and have ensured that the data is reported accurately.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFunding:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the UKRI Creating Opportunities Evaluation Development Fund (APP19330).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData analysis was performed by CD. The first draft was written by CD and all authors commented, edited and added to the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData used in this article were obtained from The Great Friendship Project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDe-identified data will be available via ReShare, a UK Data Service platform, providing secure long-term storage and access for datasets in line with FAIR standards (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable Re-usable).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeplau LA, Perlman D, Loneliness (1982) A sourcebook of current theory, research, and therapy. (No Title). May 12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeiss R, Loneliness (1975) The experience of emotional and social isolation. MIT Press. Apr 15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOffice for National Statistics (ONS) released 12 January 2024, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: 13 December 2023 to 1 January 2024\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIbbetson C (2019) WHo are the most lonely people in the UK? | YouGov [Internet]. yougov.co.uk. Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/25089-young-britons-are-most-lonely\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/25089-young-britons-are-most-lonely\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGov.UK. Community Life Survey 2021/22: Wellbeing and Loneliness [Internet]. GOV.UK. (2023) Available from: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-life-survey-202122/community-life-survey-202122-wellbeing-and-loneliness\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-life-survey-202122/community-life-survey-202122-wellbeing-and-loneliness\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHawkley LC, Buecker S, Kaiser T, Luhmann M (2022) Loneliness from young adulthood to old age: Explaining age differences in loneliness. Int J Behav Dev 46(1):39\u0026ndash;49\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOffice for National Statistics (ONS) released 12 January 2024, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: 13 December 2023 to 1 January 2024\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlam I, Khayri E, Podger TA, Aspinall C, Fuhrmann D, Lau JY (2024) A call for better research and resources for understanding and combatting youth loneliness: integrating the perspectives of young people and researchers. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 33(3):939\u0026ndash;942\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStravynski A, Boyer R (2001) Loneliness in relation to suicide ideation and parasuicide: A population-wide study. Suicide life-threatening Behav 31(1):32\u0026ndash;40\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeniro DA (1995) Perceived alienation in individs with residual-type schizophrenia. Issues Ment Health Nurs 16(3):185\u0026ndash;200\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSinger C (2018) Health effects of social isolation and loneliness. J Aging Life Care 28:4\u0026ndash;8\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHawkley LC, Masi CM, Berry JD, Cacioppo JT (2006) Loneliness is a unique predictor of age-related differences in systolic blood pressure. Psychol Aging 21(1):152\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFoundation C-O (2022) \u003cem\u003eA Friend in Need\u003c/em\u003e (PDF)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeisters R, Westra D, Putrik P, Bosma H, Ruwaard D, Jansen M (2021) Does loneliness have a cost? A population-wide study of the association between loneliness and healthcare expenditure. Int J public health 66:581286\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMihalopoulos C, Le LK, Chatterton ML, Bucholc J, Holt-Lunstad J, Lim MH, Engel L (2020) The economic costs of loneliness: a review of cost-of-illness and economic evaluation studies. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 55(7):823\u0026ndash;836\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarreto M, Victor C, Hammond C, Eccles A, Richins MT, Qualter P (2021) Loneliness around the world: Age, gender, and cultural differences in loneliness. Pers Indiv Differ 169:110066\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSalway S, Such E, Preston L, Booth A, Zubair M, Victor C, Raghavan R (2020) Reducing loneliness among migrant and ethnic minority people: a participatory evidence synthesis. Public Health Res 8(10):1\u0026ndash;246 \u0026zwnj;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeere P, Keeling S, Jamieson H (2019) Ageing, loneliness, and the geographic distribution of New Zealand's interRAI-HC cohort. Soc Sci Med 227:84\u0026ndash;92\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReed S, Bohr J (2021) The influence of local built environments on social wellbeing: A community\u0026rsquo;s experience with social isolation, social loneliness, and social belonging. Int J Community Well-Being 4(3):393\u0026ndash;413\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBergefurt L, Kemperman A, van Den Berg P, Borgers A, van Der Waerden P, Oosterhuis G, Hommel M (2019) Loneliness and life satisfaction explained by public-space use and mobility patterns. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(21):4282\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNoone C, Yang K (2022) Community-based responses to loneliness in older people: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Health Soc Care Commun 30(4):e859\u0026ndash;e873\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeam CR, Kim AJ (2020) Psychological sequelae of social isolation and loneliness might be a larger problem in young adults than older adults. Psychological trauma: Theory, research, practice, and policy. ;12(S1):S58\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShah HA, Househ M (2023) Understanding loneliness in younger people: Review of the opportunities and challenges for loneliness interventions. Interact J Med Res 12(1):e45197\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAkhter-Khan SC, Au R (2020) Why loneliness interventions are unsuccessful: A call for precision health. Adv geriatric Med Res 2(3):e200016\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOffice for National Statistics (ONS) (2021) released 29 November 2022, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Ethnic group. Census, England and Wales\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Footnotes","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The logic model was developed based on programme documentation, early stakeholder input and refined with a focus group of four current TGFP members.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Age data were available for 3400 members; ethnicity data for 3347 members; and gender data for 3406 members. Remaining data (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10) were missing.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Loneliness, young adults, social interaction, community intervention","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7979249/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7979249/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003ePurpose\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Great Friendship Project (TGFP) is a community-based intervention designed to reduce loneliness among young adults in London. This study explores which population groups TGFP reaches to begin to inform implementation potential.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTGFP gathered data from a consecutive cohort of 3,416 members. Descriptive analyses examined demographics and engagement patterns, and multiple linear regression assessed associations between demographic variables and engagement.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTGFP reaches sub-groups particularly vulnerable to loneliness, with over half of its members coming from ethnic minority backgrounds (53.2%) and male (55.8%).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTGFP effectively reaches hard-to-reach populations, highlighting potential to address loneliness on a wider scale.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Delivering an innovative community-based intervention to reduce loneliness in young and working-age adults: implementation potential","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-25 15:57:39","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7979249/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"76f97c90-cc40-44a1-826f-3949410deeb1","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 25th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-21T20:09:14+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-25 15:57:39","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7979249","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7979249","identity":"rs-7979249","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}