Use of digital technologies to combat loneliness and social isolation: a cross-sectional study in Swiss outpatient care during COVID-19 pandemic

Table 6 Changes in Loneliness and social isolation between spring, summer, and winter 2020

Loneliness and social isolation^a	Spring 2020, Mean (SD); Mdn	Summer 2020, Mean (SD); Mdn	Winter 2020, Mean (SD); Mdn	Test statistics^b; p-value; Effect size^c
Clients felt lonely in … n = 333	4.2 (1); 4	3.3 (1.2); 3	4.2 (0.9); 4	𝝌2 (2) = 242.2 p < .001 Cohen’s f = 0.7
Clients were socially isolated in … n = 372	4.3 (1.0); 5	3.3 (1.2); 3	4.2 (1.0); 4	𝝌2 (2) = 289.3 *p < .001* Cohen’s f = 0.7

^aScale: 1 = disagree to 5 = agree; ^bFriedman Test; ^cCohen’s f: 0.1 a ‘small’, 0.25 a ‘medium’ and 0.4 a ‘large’ effect size; SD=Standard deviation; Mdn = Median

ISSN: 1472-6955