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Introduction: Adolescents report using digital technologies for emotion regulation (digital ER), with the aim of feeling better (i.e., improving emotions and reducing loneliness). In this 7-day diary study, we investigated associations of digital ER, emotions, and loneliness, and tested whether prior emotional problems moderated these associations., Method: Participants were 312 Australian adolescents (M age  = 13.91, SD = 1.52; 44% boys). Daily surveys measured digital ER; end-of-day happiness, sadness, worry, anger, and loneliness; and peak sadness, worry, and anger. End-of day emotions were subtracted from peak emotions to calculate emotion recovery for sadness, worry, and anger. Participants were randomly selected from two symptom strata (high/low) defined by depression and social anxiety measures collected before the diary. Data were analyzed using multilevel path modeling. Cross-level interactions tested whether symptom strata moderated associations., Results: Digital ER was associated with more recovery from peak to end-of-day sadness and worry, but also with increased sadness, worry, anger, and loneliness by the next end-of-day. Higher end-of-day loneliness was associated with increased next-day digital ER. Prior emotional symptoms were not a significant moderator of daily digital ER and emotion associations., Conclusion: Adolescents who report more digital ER in a day show more recovery from the peak of negative emotion that day, but this recovery dissipates, with digital ER also associated with increased negative emotion and loneliness by the next day for all adolescents, regardless of prior symptom status. Lonelier adolescents use more digital ER by the next day, suggesting they need support to make social connections-online or offline., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Adolescence published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Foundation for Professionals in Services to Adolescents.)

Background: There is wide acknowledgement in the literature that social connection is protective against loneliness and depression. More robust research, however, is needed to evaluate interventions that promote social connection. This protocol paper outlines the evaluation of a community-wide social connection program, Connect Local , in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia to support people 65 years and older to increase access to local community services/activities; and to ascertain impact on social connection, loneliness, depressive symptoms, physical and mental wellbeing, and use of health services., Methods: A Type 1 Hybrid design, including program effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and implementation evaluation of the Connect Local program, will be undertaken. Eighty-eight participants aged ≥65 years with one or more chronic health condition, who are also either experiencing or at risk of loneliness, social isolation and depressive symptoms will be invited to participate in the evaluation. Outcomes, measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months, include loneliness, social isolation, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, goal attainment, wellbeing, quality of life and health care utilisation. A gender and age matched comparator group of 88 individuals will be recruited from outside the intervention local government area. Impact of the intervention on community service providers in the target region will be evaluated using mixed methods, where triangulation will be used to combine the qualitative and quantitative data using a deductive-simultaneous design. Changes in wellbeing and quality of life of community volunteers will also be measured. All groups will be interviewed to ascertain their experience and perceptions of the program. The economic evaluation will use a Social Return on Investment (SROI) approach, to include outcomes at the individual, community, and system levels. Implementation outcomes will consider Reach, Adoption, Feasibility, Acceptability, Appropriateness, Fidelity, and Sustainability of the intervention., Discussion: This study will provide a better understanding of the impacts of a community-wide social connection approach in older adults, the community and broader system., Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=385192; Identifier ACTRN12623000968673., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer AJ declared a shared affiliation with the author(s) ML to the handling editor at the time of review., (Copyright © 2024 Ogrin, Robinson, Rendell, Alrababah, Fineberg, Fiddes, Yerolemou, Lim, Engel and Lowthian.)

Loneliness contributes to mortality risk, comparable to the risks associated with smoking and obesity, although the causal determinants of loneliness remain less clear. This paper leverages mandatory stay-at-home orders in Australia as a natural experiment and employs data from a panel study to investigate the causal link between physical isolation and loneliness. By analyzing variations in the number of lockdown days experienced by respondents up until their interview dates, and utilizing difference-in-differences analyses with individual, region, and year fixed-effects estimations, we find, contrary to expectations, that the number of days in lockdown does not significantly impact loneliness. Our study examines cumulative, concurrent, and non-linear effects, and assesses external validity through community morale and peer effects during lockdowns using spatial analysis. Additionally, we delve into heterogeneous effects across various factors, such as income, age, personality, living arrangements, and remoteness, finding statistically and empirically insignificant effects. However, for extroverts and young people, we observe weak statistical significance. We investigate exclusion restrictions by analyzing factors including social contacts, internet access, job industry, and household characteristics in relation to loneliness; as well as time use and relationship satisfaction to better understand the underlying mechanism. Our study challenges the notion that 'being alone' and 'being lonely' are interchangeable concepts, providing the first empirical causal evidence of no links between the two. Furthermore, our findings refine earlier understandings of social isolation, highlighting that it likely encompasses factors beyond physical isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Occupational recovery for people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome requires better assessment and understanding of the occupational impact of this debilitating condition. This study explores the lived experience of Australian adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome using the Model of Human Occupation. Methods: The research design was a cross-sectional descriptive study, and participants were recruited via social media to complete an online survey. A Model of Human Occupation Tool, The Occupational Self-Assessment, captured an individual's perceptions of occupational identity and competence. Results: Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. The free-text responses were summarised. Twenty-nine participants completed the Occupational Self-Assessment. A decrease in occupational participation across all domains was evident. Qualitative themes of loneliness, feeling confined, feeling like a burden and loss of previous life/roles were collated, showing an adverse impact on occupational identity. A lack of independence and control showed a reduction in occupational competence. Conclusions: The study confirmed the impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome on occupational identity and competence. These individuals struggled with occupational adaptation and would benefit from occupational support. Occupational therapists could use the Occupational Self-Assessment to identify areas of need, set goals and facilitate better occupational adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Siblings of children with cancer have been shown to experience disruption in multiple domains including family, school, and friendships. Existing literature on siblings' experiences focuses on older children or on a broad range of ages. Aim: To explore the experience of siblings aged 8–12 years when their brother or sister is diagnosed with cancer. Method: A qualitative design incorporating phenomenology as the theoretical framework was used. Participants were recruited from across Australia via notices on social media sites and by the distribution of flyers. We used thematic analysis to analyze the data. Data were collected via semistructured interviews conducted either in person or online. Findings: A total of 13 siblings (7 boys and 6 girls) aged between 8 and 12 years (M = 9.8, SD = 1.6) were interviewed. Seven main themes were identified. These were "It was really hard": Reactions to the cancer diagnosis; "I'm really angry": Emotional and Physical Responses to siblings' treatment; "I pretend teddy is real": Play as an outlet; "It was very lonely": Missing their siblings; "I missed out on a lot of fun": Disruption of activities: School, sports, playdates, and parties; Change and Transition and "Making a difficult situation worse": COVID-19 Pandemic. Discussion: Findings extend the current understanding showing that younger siblings' developmental and cognitive skills impact their experiences of childhood cancer. Younger siblings outlined the many losses they experienced which demonstrated a need for a comprehensive and tailored program to support young siblings aged under 12 of children with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argentina and Australia endured among the most severe COVID-19 lockdowns globally. This study examined which artistic creative activities (ACAs) Argentinians in the Buenos Aries region used to support their mental health and wellbeing and compared these findings with existing data for Australians (primarily from Victoria) across a similar period. Adult Argentinians (N = 86) responded to an online survey regarding 27 listed ACAs, as well as ratings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. While "watching films and television" was the most commonly reported ACA, it was not rated as effective in supporting mental health and wellbeing. Conversely, musical ACAs were ranked highest. We consider evidence from Australia, North America, and South America that musical ACAs (especially music listening) have been most effective at supporting mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic by way of avoidance-based emotion regulation. We also conclude from the data that Argentinians tended to place greater importance on music-based ACAs than Australians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social isolation and loneliness can occur in all age groups, and they are linked to increased mortality and poorer health outcomes. There is a growing body of research indicating inconsistent findings on the effectiveness of interventions aiming to alleviate social isolation and loneliness. Hence the need to facilitate the discoverability of research on these interventions. Objectives: To map available evidence on the effects of in‐person interventions aimed at mitigating social isolation and/or loneliness across all age groups and settings. Search Methods: The following databases were searched from inception up to 17 February 2022 with no language restrictions: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, EBM Reviews—Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, APA PsycInfo via Ovid, CINAHL via EBSCO, EBSCO (all databases except CINAHL), Global Index Medicus, ProQuest (all databases), ProQuest ERIC, Web of Science, Korean Citation Index, Russian Science Citation Index, and SciELO Citation Index via Clarivate, and Elsevier Scopus. Selection Criteria: Titles, abstracts, and full texts of potentially eligible articles identified were screened independently by two reviewers for inclusion following the outlined eligibility criteria. Data Collection and Analysis: We developed and pilot tested a data extraction code set in Eppi‐Reviewer. Data was individually extracted and coded. We used the AMSTAR2 tool to assess the quality of reviews. However, the quality of the primary studies was not assessed. Main Results: A total of 513 articles (421 primary studies and 92 systematic reviews) were included in this evidence and gap map which assessed the effectiveness of in‐person interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness. Most (68%) of the reviews were classified as critically low quality, while less than 5% were classified as high or moderate quality. Most reviews looked at interpersonal delivery and community‐based delivery interventions, especially interventions for changing cognition led by a health professional and group activities, respectively. Loneliness, wellbeing, and depression/anxiety were the most assessed outcomes. Most research was conducted in high‐income countries, concentrated in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, with none from low‐income countries. Major gaps were identified in societal level and community‐based delivery interventions that address policies and community structures, respectively. Less than 5% of included reviews assessed process indicators or implementation outcomes. Similar patterns of evidence and gaps were found in primary studies. All age groups were represented but more reviews and primary studies focused on older adults (≥60 years, 63%) compared to young people (≤24 years, 34%). Two thirds described how at‐risk populations were identified and even fewer assessed differences in effect across equity factors for populations experiencing inequities. Authors' Conclusions: There is growing evidence that social isolation and loneliness are public health concerns. This evidence and gap map shows the available evidence, at the time of the search, on the effectiveness of in‐person interventions at reducing social isolation and loneliness across all ages and settings. Despite a large body of research, with much of it published in more recent years, it is unevenly distributed geographically and across types of interventions and outcomes. Most of the systematic reviews are of critically low quality, indicating the need for high quality reviews. This map can guide funders and researchers to consider the areas in which the evidence is lacking and to address these gaps as future research priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate how loneliness develops over the marital dissolution process in older age (i.e., transition at or after age 50) while paying close attention to heterogeneities by the dissolution pathway—widowhood and separation—and gender. Using data from over 8,000 Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey respondents, we assess the association of interest using fixed effects regressions. Findings indicate that loneliness increased in the year before widowhood or separation among both women and men. Levels spiked in the year of dissolution, particularly for widowhood but less for separation. Widowed men were substantially more affected than widowed women, and gender differences were negligible for separation. Although loneliness levels gradually declined, widowed men remained vulnerable for remarkably long periods. Such chronic loneliness might be linked to other health disadvantages. These findings highlight the importance of long-term and gender-specific approaches to social support and integration after marital dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite growing recognition of loneliness as a global public health concern, research on its occurrence and precipitants among men across different life stages remains limited and inconclusive. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the prevalence and predictors of loneliness among a large, representative data set of Australian adult men. Methods: The study used longitudinal data from waves 2–21 of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, including men aged 15–98. Estimating linear fixed effects regressions that account for unobserved time-invariant individual heterogeneity, a single-item measure of loneliness was regressed on a set of selected explanatory variables over different parts of the life course. Results: Increased social isolation, romantic partnership dissolution, having a long-term disability, and stronger beliefs that the man, rather than the woman, should be the breadwinner of the household, are associated with greater loneliness. Frequent social connection, having a romantic partner, and high neighbourhood satisfaction are protective against loneliness. The findings also reveal several differences in the predictors of loneliness over the life course. Job security is especially important for younger men, whereas for older men volunteering and less conservative gender role attitudes are important factors that can decrease loneliness. Conclusions: The results emphasise the need to consider age-specific factors and societal expectations in understanding and addressing loneliness amongst men. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about the impact of societal norms and expectations on men's mental health. The results offer valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers to develop effective strategies and support systems to combat loneliness and promote well-being among men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There have been few controlled evaluations of Social Prescribing (SP), in which link workers support lonely individuals to engage with communitybased social activities. This study reports early outcomes of a trial comparing General Practitioner treatment-as-usual (TAU) with TAU combined with Social Prescribing (SP) in adults experiencing loneliness in Queensland. Methods: Participants were 114 individuals who were non-randomly assigned to one of two conditions (SP, n = 63; TAU, n = 51) and assessed at baseline and 8 weeks, on primary outcomes (loneliness, well-being, health service use in past 2 months) and secondary outcomes (social anxiety, psychological distress, social trust). Results: Retention was high (79.4%) in the SP condition. Time × condition interaction effects were found for loneliness and social trust, with improvement observed only in SP participants over the 8-week period. SP participants reported significant improvement on all other outcomes with small-to-moderate effect sizes (ULS-8 loneliness, wellbeing, psychological distress, social anxiety). However, interaction effects did not reach significance. Discussion: Social prescribing effects were small to moderate at the 8-week follow up. Group-based activities are available in communities across Australia, however, further research using well-matched control samples and longer-term follow ups are required to provide robust evidence to support a wider roll out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative paper explores rural women entrepreneurs' motives for joining a female-founded, female-only business network. Using a theoretical framework based on the collective identity, territorial capital and gendered networks, we found that rural women's underlying motives to join the network is to harmonise the perceived dichotomy between their roles as women and as entrepreneurs and pave the way for a successful entrepreneurial journey. Their narratives suggest they prefer to connect and learn in business networks that they feel are extensions of who they are; that is where their identities are maintained and produce a sense of belonging. Network members perceive each other as 'like-minded', which suggests interpersonal congruence and behavioural integration, where they expect social interactions to be conflict-free. Therefore, the women perceived the network as supportive and non-competitive, with the main benefits of building their self-confidence while mitigating the social isolation and feelings of loneliness that characterise rural contexts in Australia. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of female-founded FOBNs as neo-endogenous agents catalysts for shifting social paradigms and fostering a more diverse, equitable and inclusive rural landscape. • Women entrepreneurs in rural Australia see their roles as women and entrepreneurs as conflicting. • Their narratives suggest a lack of self-confidence, low self-worth, and a desire to relate to like-minded people in a safe environment. • They join female-founded FOBNs to harmonise their conflicting roles and succeed in their entrepreneurial journey. • To achieve this, they need to be empowered, feel that they belong, and feel safe and supported. • FOBNs can support personal growth, legitimise women in entrepreneurship and mitigate social isolation in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]