The goal of this cluster randomized controlled trial is to learn if using Frendie PRO mobile application at workplaces improves social well-being in employees. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does using Frendie PRO mobile application at work for 6 months reduce loneliness in employees? Does using Fendie PRO mobile application at work for 6 months reduce social isolation in employees? Researchers will compare employees from workplaces that use the Frendie PRO mobile application to employees from workplaces that do not use the mobile application to see if there are differences in their levels of social well-being (loneliness, social isolation, perceived social support, depressive symptoms). Participants will be given access to the Frendie PRO mobile application and encouraged to use it by employers.
Participants will be recruited from workplaces that use the Frendie PRO mobile application. After collecting baseline data, each workplace will be randomly assigned to treatment or control conditions. The unit of randomization is a workplace (or a team or department in bigger organizations). The intervention group will be encouraged to download and start using the Frendie PRO mobile application. The control group will be informed of the date when they will have access to it (six months after the baseline). Both groups are asked to participate in two follow-ups - a 3-month follow-up and a 6-month follow-up.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,012
Frendie PRO mobile application offers employees an environment to manage their social relationships, organize leisure activities, and discuss personal or work-related matters.
University of Eastern Finland
Kuopio, North Savonia, Finland
Loneliness
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale
Time frame: Will be measured three times: baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up
Social Isolation
The Social Isolation scale was modified from an index used by Christiansen et al. (2021). Christiansen and colleagues, in turn, created it inspired by the detailed Social Network Index created by Berkman and Syme (1979). Communication frequency with the following groups is measured: * family members who live elsewhere * friends * colleagues or fellow students at the workplace/school and outside of the workplace/school * neighbors and local community * people from social clubs, hobby groups, and religious organisations at and outside the meetings.
Time frame: Will be measured three times: baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up
Social support
Oslo Social Support Scale
Time frame: Will be measured three times: baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up
Depressive symptoms
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9)
Time frame: Will be measured three times: baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up
Workplace loneliness
Specific scale regarding loneliness experienced at workplaces. Includes 5 items that are modified from the UCLA loneliness scale. It was validated in Finnish adult population. Please see Kemppinen and Tanskanen (2023) for full description: Kemppinen, S., Tanskanen, J., 2023. Suomenkielisen työyksinäisyysmittarin validointi etä- ja hybridityöläisillä (Eng title: Validation of Finnish loneliness at work scale with remote and hybrid worker sample). Psykologia 58, 198-219.
Time frame: Will be measured three times: baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up
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