or instrumental support, which consists of things Interventions that address “maladaptive social such as actual physical assistance, financial cognition” have been found to have a larger assistance, information, or other help useful for mean effect size compared to interventions solving a problem or answering questions; and that addressed social support, social skills, emotional support, on the other hand, which and opportunities for social intervention (Masi refers more to a feeling of group belonging or the et al. 2010). According to Masi et al. this result feeling that one is cared for by some significant is consistent with the model of loneliness as other or others. Second, researchers distinguish “regulatory loop” (Cacioppo and Hawkley 2009), among different sources of support, including in which lonely individuals have increased significant others such as partners or spouses, sensitivity to and surveillance for social threats, family members, friends, co-workers, neighbours, preferentially attend to negative social information, and even pets (Tomaka et al. 2006). tend to remember more of the negative aspects In general, the data confirms that social support of social events, hold more negative social decreases loneliness. Differential analysis of the expectations, and are more likely to behave in three types of support shows that emotional ways that confirm their negative expectations. support is significantly associated with family, Regardless of whether this model is accurate or romantic, and social loneliness, whereas the not, it seems that CBT and related interventions effect of instrumental support is very limited may have a role to play in supporting individuals and informational support does not significantly with chronic loneliness. affect loneliness (Hombrados-Mendieta et al. Intervention methods 2013: 1028-29). There is some consensus that Self-management emotional support is the most relevant regarding a large number of problems (Cutrona 1986), As mentioned from the outset, many people although it is clear that each type of support fulfils experience isolation or feelings of loneliness a specific function. In this regard, some authors at some point in their lives. For the majority of (e.g. Blazer 2002) suggest that emotional support people, these experiences are temporary or is a key element in the experience of loneliness situational and people often learn to manage since this occurs when there is a discrepancy these experiences in some way. between desired emotional support and available Self-management techniques aim to support emotional support. people’s resilience in two key ways. The Interventions which enhance social support first encompasses external resources which include professionally initiated interventions for contribute to well-being from the “outside” the bereaved (Vachon et al. 1980), for the elderly such as friends and social support. The second whose personal networks have been disrupted encompasses internal resources which refer to by relocation (Kowalski 1981), and for children behavioural and cognitive abilities that people whose parents have divorced (Wallerstein & use to manage their external resources and thus Kelly 1977). achieve well-being. Having external resources is Cognitive approaches essential but not sufficient for the maintenance of well-being; people also need to be able to Finally, programmes that focus on addressing manage these external resources (Steverink et al. negative thoughts (e.g. of self-worth) through 2005). For example, having social relationships interventions such as cognitive behavioural requires the management ability to indeed therapy (CBT) appear to be somewhat successful achieve and maintain social support from these in reducing loneliness (Young 1982). The relationships. Steverink et al. (2005) introduced cornerstone of this intervention is to teach lonely the term self-management abilities (SMAs) to individuals to identify automatic negative thoughts represent these internal resources, which were and how to manage these feelings. identified as self-efficacy, positive frame of Isolation and loneliness 25