Sauna for Offline Connections and Interactive, Authentic Living
University of California, San Francisco
Summary
This pilot trial will test an intervention (sauna visits) targeting reductions in loneliness in adults aged 19-22 years. Participants will: * Visit a sauna in San Francisco once per week for 2 hours by themselves or with a friend, for 8 weeks total * Complete online surveys throughout their participation The main question this pilot trial aims to answer are: * To what extent do participants find the study design acceptable? * To what extent do participants complete the weekly sauna visits? * To what extent do participants complete the weekly online surveys?
Description
In the U.S. today, emerging adults (i.e., ages 19 to 22) report high levels of loneliness and social isolation, which are significant risk factors for myriad poor health outcomes. This formative period of emerging adulthood is arguably among the most critical of times: it is when the people who comprise our next generation of leaders have some of their earliest opportunities to build their identities as curious about, accepting of, and open to differences from their peers. Traditional sauna bathing is a social, mental, and physical health practice associated with greater mental wellness and a…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 19–22 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 19-22 * English-speaking * Able to provide written informed consent * Graduated from high school or high school equivalent * Elevated level of loneliness * Able and willing to receive study text messages * Able to attend weekly in-person sauna visits in San Francisco, CA Exclusion Criteria: * Self-reported heat intolerance * Pregnancy, active lactation, or intention to become pregnant during the study period * Regular use of any nicotine products, including cigarettes, vapes, chewing tobacco, or other forms of nicotine (if use is not regular, must be willing to re…
Interventions
- BehavioralSauna Visits
Weekly 2-hour visits to a sauna in San Francisco by themselves or with one person of their choice for 8 weeks.
Location
- Osher Center for Integrative HealthSan Francisco, California