Sauna for Offline Connections and Interactive, Authentic Living
University of California, San Francisco
15 participants
Apr 20, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
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?
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria7
- 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 Criteria8
- 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
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Interventions
Weekly 2-hour visits to a sauna in San Francisco by themselves or with one person of their choice for 8 weeks.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT07223099