Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40921010›Full record

Trial reportJMIR formative research2025

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Mobile Adaptation of a Relational Savoring Intervention to Prevent Loneliness in College Students: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.

Brenda Nguyen, Jocelyn Lai, Hana Qureshi, Christopher Marcotullio, Sina Labbaf, Yuning Wang, Salar Jafarlou, Nikil Dutt, Amir M Rahmani, Jessica L Borelli

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in JMIR formative research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
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

10 authors.

Brenda NguyenDepartment of Psychological Science, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States, 1 203-887-8857.ORCID 0009-0004-6480-8292
Jocelyn LaiDepartment of Psychological Science, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States, 1 203-887-8857.ORCID 0000-0002-6457-3313
Hana QureshiDepartment of Psychological Science, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States, 1 203-887-8857.ORCID 0009-0004-6907-788X
Christopher MarcotullioDepartment of Psychological Science, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States, 1 203-887-8857.ORCID 0009-0000-0736-5166
Sina LabbafDepartment of Computer Science, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-9478-2546
Yuning WangDepartment of Computing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-7351-6866
Salar JafarlouDepartment of Computer Science, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-9706-0901
Nikil DuttDepartment of Computer Science, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-3060-8119
Amir M RahmaniDepartment of Computer Science, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-0725-1155
Jessica L BorelliDepartment of Psychological Science, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States, 1 203-887-8857.ORCID 0000-0001-8471-6732

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Rates of loneliness have risen sharply since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to disruptions in social relationships and daily routines, with college students experiencing some of the greatest increases. While prevention programs targeting loneliness have been developed, their success has been limited. One promising approach may lie in enhancing the quality of existing relationships rather than simply increasing social interactions during periods of acute loneliness. Relational savoring, an intervention rooted in attachment theory and positive psychology, aims to deepen feelings of connection by encouraging individuals to reflect on positive interpersonal experiences. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a mobile health adaptation of relational savoring, termed mSavorUs (developed by Amir Rahmani), designed to prevent and reduce loneliness among college students. Methods: A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted with a diverse sample of 29 college students (43.3% Latinx, 40% Asian American, and 16.7% White). The intervention leveraged a smart ring, smartwatch, and smartphone app to enable just-in-time delivery of relational savoring prompts, alongside continuous monitoring of loneliness-related indicators (eg, physiological activity, sleep, and behavior). Aim 1 involved a thematic analysis of participant feedback regarding the utility, benefits, and challenges of both mSavorUs and the monitoring tools. Aim 2 examined the intervention's effects on loneliness and perceived connectedness. Results: For aim 1, qualitative findings suggested that participants found the content of mSavorUs (developed by Amir Rahmani) rewarding and helpful; however, the timing of the intervention was often experienced as disruptive. For aim 2, quantitative analyses revealed no significant reductions in loneliness or increases in connectedness, indicating the need for adjustments to the intervention delivery method. Conclusions: Although participants found the intervention content valuable, the just-in-time delivery format may have limited its effectiveness. Future iterations should consider alternative timing or delivery strategies to maximize program benefits.

Indexed as

COVID-19LonelinessMobile ApplicationsStudentsAdolescentAdultFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansInterpersonal RelationsMalePilot ProjectsTelemedicineUniversitiesYoung Adultcollege studentsconnectednesslonelinessmobilerelational savoring

Identifiers

PMID40921010
PMCPMC12518887

What Socratic 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 Socratic graph.