LonelinessSOCIALNCT07223099
Sauna for Offline Connections and Interactive, Authentic Living
A study testing Sauna Visits in people with Loneliness, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This pilot trial will test an intervention (sauna visits) targeting reductions in loneliness in adults aged 19-25 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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Loneliness
- What is being tested?
- Sauna Visits
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 20 Apr 2026to 30 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 19 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 19-25
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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 refrain for 24 hours before and 24 hours after sauna visits)
- Current social heat practices 2 or more times per month (e.g., visiting sauna or hot tub facilities with others present)
- Unwilling to refrain from using marijuana products and alcohol for the 24 hours before and 24 hours after sauna visits
- Unwilling to refrain from heavy exercise on the day of sauna visits
- Any medical condition that, in the opinion of investigators, may increase the risk of sauna use or introduce excessive variance into physiological or behavioral responses to sauna visits
- Use of any medication that might impact thermoregulatory capacity or that, in the opinion of investigators, would increase risk of study participation or introduce excessive variance into physiological or behavioral responses to sauna visits
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Osher Center for Integrative Health
San Francisco, California, 94115
Sarah M Fisher, MS, 415-476-1218, socialstudy@ucsf.edu
About this study
This pilot trial will test an intervention (sauna visits) targeting reductions in loneliness in adults aged 19-25 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?
Read the detailed description
In the U.S. today, emerging adults (i.e., ages 19 to 25) 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 active social engagement. Recent studies also suggest that thermal therapies, including sauna, may reduce depressive symptoms, which contribute to loneliness and social isolation. Sauna bathing is deeply integrated into the social fabric of several cultures, most notably Finland where it serves as a communal activity that fosters social connection and may help reduce loneliness.
- Conditions
- Loneliness
- Being tested
- Sauna Visits
- Keywords
- Loneliness, Sauna, Gen Z, Young adult, Emerging adult
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Sauna VisitsBehavioural
Weekly 2-hour visits to a sauna in San Francisco by themselves or with one person of their choice for 8 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Sauna Visits | Experimental | Participants will complete 2-hour visits, by themselves or with another person of their choosing, to a local sauna in San Francisco for 8 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Sauna Visits |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Participation Acceptability
Average rating on the following net promoter item: "Thinking about everything that participating in this study involved (completing screening activities, visiting the sauna, doing questionnaires), would you recommend participating in this study to a friend or family member looking to reduce their feelings of loneliness?"
Measured: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Intervention Adherence
Proportion of study sauna visits attended (out of 8)
Measured: 8 weeks
Weekly Survey Completion
Proportion of weekly surveys completed (out of 8)
Measured: 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Oct 2025
- Study start20 Apr 2026
- Primary completion30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for LonelinessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, San FranciscoThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- All participants will receive the weekly sauna visit intervention (2-hour visits to a sauna in San Francisco, either alone or with one person of their choice) for 8 weeks.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, San Francisco
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Tiny Blue Dot Foundation
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Ashley E Mason, PhD, Principal investigator, University of California, San Francisco
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07223099
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SOCIAL
- Acronym
- SOCIAL
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Oct 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The final IPD dataset will include de-identified self-reported demographic data, self-reported data (e.g., measures of social interaction loneliness), sauna visit completion data, and study assessment completion data.
Publications
Laukkanen JA, Kunutsor SK. The multifaceted benefits of passive heat therapies for extending the healthspan: A comprehensive review with a focus on Finnish sauna. Temperature (Austin). 2024 Feb 25;11(1):27-51. doi: 10.1080/23328940.2023.2300623. eCollection 2024.
PubMed 38577299Patrick RP, Johnson TL. Sauna use as a lifestyle practice to extend healthspan. Exp Gerontol. 2021 Oct 15;154:111509. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111509. Epub 2021 Aug 5.
PubMed 34363927
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Sauna for Offline Connections and Interactive, Authentic Living
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07223099
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SOCIAL / SOCIAL
- Conditions
- Loneliness
- Keywords
- Loneliness, Sauna, Gen Z, Young adult, Emerging adult
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, San FranciscoUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Tiny Blue Dot Foundation
- Study start
- 20 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot trial will test an intervention (sauna visits) targeting reductions in loneliness in adults aged 19-25 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?
Detailed description
In the U.S. today, emerging adults (i.e., ages 19 to 25) 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 active social engagement. Recent studies also suggest that thermal therapies, including sauna, may reduce depressive symptoms, which contribute to loneliness and social isolation. Sauna bathing is deeply integrated into the social fabric of several cultures, most notably Finland where it serves as a communal activity that fosters social connection and may help reduce loneliness.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- All participants will receive the weekly sauna visit intervention (2-hour visits to a sauna in San Francisco, either alone or with one person of their choice) for 8 weeks.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Sauna Visits | Experimental | Behavioral: Sauna VisitsParticipants will complete 2-hour visits, by themselves or with another person of their choosing, to a local sauna in San Francisco for 8 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Aged 19-25
- English-speaking
- Able to provide written informed consent
- Graduated from high school or high school equivalent
- Elevated level of loneliness
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- 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 refrain for 24 hours before and 24 hours after sauna visits)
- Current social heat practices 2 or more times per month (e.g., visiting sauna or hot tub facilities with others present)
- Unwilling to refrain from using marijuana products and alcohol for the 24 hours before and 24 hours after sauna visits
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Sauna VisitsWeekly 2-hour visits to a sauna in San Francisco by themselves or with one person of their choice for 8 weeks. | Behavioural | Sauna Visits |
Primary outcome
Participation Acceptability
Time frame: 8 weeks
Average rating on the following net promoter item: "Thinking about everything that participating in this study involved (completing screening activities, visiting the sauna, doing questionnaires), would you recommend participating in this study to a friend or family member looking to reduce their feelings of loneliness?"
2 secondary outcomes
Intervention Adherence
Time frame: 8 weeks
Weekly Survey Completion
Time frame: 8 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Aug 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38577299Laukkanen JA, Kunutsor SK. The multifaceted benefits of passive heat therapies for extending the healthspan: A comprehensive review with a focus on Finnish sauna. Temperature (Austin). 2024 Feb 25;11(1):27-51. doi: 10.1080/23328940.2023.2300623. eCollection 2024.
- Background: PubMed 34363927Patrick RP, Johnson TL. Sauna use as a lifestyle practice to extend healthspan. Exp Gerontol. 2021 Oct 15;154:111509. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111509. Epub 2021 Aug 5.
- Link to online screening surveyLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The final IPD dataset will include de-identified self-reported demographic data, self-reported data (e.g., measures of social interaction loneliness), sauna visit completion data, and study assessment completion data.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Ashley E Mason, PhD principal investigator
University of California, San Francisco
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Sauna Visits in people with Loneliness, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact SOCIAL Study Team (415-514-8445, socialstudy@ucsf.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Participation Acceptability (time frame: 8 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07223099, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Aug 2026.