Circling Science

GROUPS 4 HEALTH reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: Findings from a randomized controlled trial.

Catherine Haslam, Tegan Cruwys, Melissa X.-L. Chang, Sarah V. Bentley, S. Alexander Haslam, Genevieve A. Dingle and Jolanda Jetten · 2019

Evidence
Randomised trial
Kind
Journal article
peer-reviewed
Method
Trial comparing a five-session group programme with usual care, including a two-month follow-up
Sample
120 adults experiencing psychological distress
Published
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(9), 787–801
Practices
Groups 4 Health

Adjacent

Studies a related practice or mechanism, without testing Circling.

A trial found that Groups 4 Health reduced reported loneliness and social anxiety more than usual care by the two-month follow-up.

What it doesn’t show

The authors included the programme’s developers. Participant outcomes were questionnaire ratings, including reported GP visits. Usual care varied and other treatment was permitted; the trial did not compare equally intensive group programmes, isolate the active ingredient or establish benefits beyond two months.

Summary based on the abstract and the full text’s measures, programme description, results and limitations.

Directions that build on it

  1. A controlled trial of Circling

    Builds on 5 works · 5 funding routes

    Does a Circling programme reduce loneliness or build closeness more than an active control?

Links

Cite

Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., Chang, M. X.-L., Bentley, S. V., Haslam, S. A., Dingle, G. A., & Jetten, J. (2019). GROUPS 4 HEALTH reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: Findings from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(9), 787–801. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000427