Loneliness has long been a human experience, but the COVID-19 pandemic intensified it significantly. A compelling study shows that brief phone calls can effectively alleviate loneliness, along with associated anxiety and depression.
Even before the March 2020 lockdowns, experts emphasized staying connected via phone, text, or video calls like Skype to combat anxiety and depression. Research published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Psychiatry on February 23, 2021, confirms that phone calls lasting at least 10 minutes, several times a week, meaningfully reduce feelings of loneliness. Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin conducted this study with 240 participants aged 27 to 101.
Notably, 20% of participants who received these calls reported feeling less isolated. They were assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, answering questions like: How often do you feel a lack of companionship? How often do you feel left out? How often do you feel isolated from others?
Only half the group received calls over one month. Callers were trained in empathetic communication techniques, including active listening and open-ended questions about the recipient's interests.
Participants received calls five days in the first week, then two to five times weekly thereafter, discussing everyday topics. Compared to the control group, these interactions improved overall mental health, with anxiety dropping more than 30% on the GAD-7 scale and depressive symptoms decreasing 24% on the PHQ-8 scale.
Lead researchers note the anxiety and depression improvements were particularly pronounced. They urge those feeling lonely to regularly reach out to a trusted family member or friend to replicate these benefits in real life.
