Effectiveness of a Psychological Intervention to Reduce Social Isolation and Promote Social Connectedness in Young Adults

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychological intervention aimed at reducing social isolation and promoting social connectedness among young adults. Specifically, the study investigates the impact of an 8-week, digitally assisted face-to-face group social skills training program on individuals aged 19 to 34 who experience difficulties in interpersonal relationships and social isolation. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the active intervention group or a waitlist control group. The study aims to determine whether this structured psychosocial intervention improves interpersonal competence and social performance, reduces social isolation, and improves other psychosocial variables. Outcomes will be evaluated at three time points-pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a 1-month follow-up-utilizing a combination of self-report questionnaires and performance-based role-play assessments.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 19 to 34 years * South Korean nationality * Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, 15-item short form (ICQ-15): mean score of 2.87 or lower * Meets either (a) or (b) below: * (a) Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6) total score of less than 12, AND short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale-8 total score of 17 or higher * (b) Korea University Social Isolation Scale (KUSIS) total score of 9 or higher * Confirmation on a non-face-to-face screening interview that the participant's primary difficulty involves interpersonal problems stemming from a lack of social knowledge and skills Exclusion Criteria: * Psychiatric or neurological hospitalization within the past 6 months * Current or past diagnosis of a severe neurological disorder * Cognitive impairment severe enough to hinder the basic communication required for program participation * Suicide attempt within the past 6 months * Severe suicide risk identified during the assessment * History of psychotic symptoms or manic episodes * Severe psychiatric condition or major medical abnormality that would complicate participation * Unable or unwilling to follow the research team's instructions during the application process * Currently participating in individual or group psychotherapy that provides training in other social skills * Participation within the past 5 years in a study on social isolation conducted by an investigator of the present research team, which raises concern for a confounding effect on the study results