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.
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
(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
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
Parallel
Digital-Assisted Group Social Skills Training
BehavioralParticipants assigned to the active intervention arm receive an 8-week, face-to-face group social skills training program, which involves weekly 120-minute sessions supplemented by a web-based digital platform designed to promote between-session practice and skill generalization.
Korean Version of the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (K-ICQ)
The Korean Version of the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (K-ICQ) is a 31-item self-report measure of interpersonal competence. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (extremely good). The total score sums all items and ranges from 31 to 155. Higher scores indicate greater interpersonal competence, which is a better outcome.
Social Skills Knowledge Test
The Social Skills Knowledge Test is an investigator-developed knowledge test created to objectively measure acquisition of the social skills content taught in the intervention. It consists of 21 items (multiple-choice and true/false) covering seven domains that correspond to the session curriculum: relationship formation skills, conversation skills I, conversation skills II, assertion skills, conflict management skills, dating skills, and workplace skills, with 3 items per domain. Each item has an unambiguously correct answer and is scored 1 (correct) or 0 (incorrect). The total score is the sum of correct responses and ranges from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater knowledge of social skills, which is a better outcome.
Korea University Social Isolation Scale (KUSIS)
The Korea University Social Isolation Scale (KUSIS) is a 9-item self-report measure of social isolation risk. Respondents rate their state over the past month, excluding people they currently live with. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 0 (never) to 3 (very much). The total score sums all items and ranges from 0 to 27, with a cut-off of 9 or higher indicating risk of social isolation. Higher scores indicate greater social isolation, which is a worse outcome.
Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6)
The Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6) is a 6-item self-report measure of social network size and engagement; three items concern family and relatives, and three concern friends and other acquaintances. Each item is rated on a 6-point scale from 0 (none) to 5 (nine or more people). The total score sums all items and ranges from 0 to 30. Higher scores indicate a larger and more engaged social network, which is a better outcome.
Short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale-8
The short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale-8 (ULS-8) is an 8-item self-report measure of loneliness abbreviated from the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 1 (never) to 4 (always); two positively worded items are reverse-scored. The total score is the sum of all items and ranges from 8 to 32. Higher scores indicate greater loneliness, which is a worse outcome.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a 9-item self-report measure of depressive symptoms over the preceding two weeks, based on the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The total score is the sum of all items and ranges from 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms, which is a worse outcome.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is a 7-item self-report measure of the core symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder over the preceding two weeks. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The total score is the sum of all items and ranges from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms, which is a worse outcome.
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