Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37488324›Full record

Observational studyInternational journal of behavioral medicine2024

The Impact of Digital Mental Health Services on Loneliness and Mental Health: Results from a Prospective, Observational Study.

Kirby Magid, Sara J Sagui-Henson, Cynthia Castro Sweet, Brooke J Smith, Camille E Welcome Chamberlain, Sara M Levens

Open access · hybridAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in International journal of behavioral medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
6.6field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Loneliness by Design: The Structural Logic of Isolation in Engagement-Driven Systems.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Observational
  10. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Kirby MagidUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC, Charlotte, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9632-8021
Sara J Sagui-HensonModern Health, San Francisco, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5410-2684
Cynthia Castro SweetModern Health, San Francisco, CA, USA. cynthia@joinmodernhealth.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6860-4095
Brooke J SmithModern Health, San Francisco, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7554-7092
Camille E Welcome ChamberlainModern Health, San Francisco, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2735-7299
Sara M LevensUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC, Charlotte, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7512-4495
University of North Carolina at Charlotte · USSan Francisco Department of Public Health · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLoneliness has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic and negatively impacts mental health. This study examined relationships between loneliness and mental health among adults using a digital mental health platform.

methodsA purposive sample of 919 participants (97% response rate) who were newly enrolled in the platform completed a survey on loneliness, depression, anxiety, well-being, stress, social support, and comorbidities at baseline and 3 months. Platform engagement was tracked during this period. We examined baseline differences between lonely and non-lonely participants; associations between loneliness, mental health symptoms, and comorbidities; and changes in loneliness and mental health through engagement in any form of care.

resultsAt baseline, 57.8% of the sample were categorized as lonely. Loneliness was associated with younger age, fewer years of education, and the presence of a comorbidity (p values < .05). Baseline loneliness was associated with greater depression, anxiety, and stress and lower well-being and social support (ps < .001). The percentage of lonely participants decreased at follow-up (57.6% to 52.9%, p = .03). Those who improved in loneliness improved in mental health symptoms, well-being, and social support (ps < .001). Lonely participants who engaged in any form of care reported a greater reduction in loneliness than those who did not engage (p = .04).

conclusionsThis study confirms previous findings of the high prevalence of loneliness among adults and risk factors for increased loneliness. Findings highlight the potential of digital platforms to reach lonely individuals and alleviate loneliness through remote mental health support.

Indexed as

COVID-19DepressionLonelinessMental HealthMental Health ServicesSocial SupportAdultAgedAnxietyComorbidityFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesStress, PsychologicalEngagementLonelinessMental HealthmHealth

Identifiers

PMID37488324
PMCPMC11106110
OpenAlexW4385191681

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.