A Web-Based Gentle Body Stretching to Alleviate Loneliness and Improve Mental Fitness During COVID-19 Isolation Period

NCT ID: NCT04394013

Last Updated: 2021-02-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-08-26
• Study Completion Date: 2020-12-31

Brief Summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals are having to stay at home in quarantine to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus. Depending on the number of occupants and the dwelling space available, this can lead to household crowding, which can have an effect on mental health. In addition, the closing of leisure facilities, including restaurants, cafes and, with the need to self-isolate and socially distance, has led to loneliness. The focus on "loneliness" has recently been on a rise, and being described as an epidemic, especially when it has been shown to be associated with various diseases as well as increased risk of mortality. Studies conducted on participants in isolation has shown increased mental health issues including anxiety, stress and depression.

Mindfulness intervention has been shown to alleviate mental health issues including loneliness. However, to date, there is limited studies examining the effectiveness of a remote mindfulness intervention. This proposal aims to deliver a remote mindfulness program that can be accessible by participants easily and even during the isolation period. This intervention will investigate the effectiveness and safety in elevating mental health issues faced by the general population.

Detailed Description

Loneliness, mindfulness and quality of life will be assessed as the primary outcome of the study. A mindfulness video will be used as the intervention for participants, and is compared with a group with similar video content without mindfulness component. The effect of changes in primary outcome will be assessed between groups after 2-4weeks.

Conditions

Mental Health Issue

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Mindfulness Arm

The content of the approximately 20 minutes video is recorded in advance of the intervention by a certified teacher with teaching experience. The 20 minutes session consists of a series of body stretching exercises (around 17 different gentle and simple stretches from head to toe) with the incorporation of breathing technique (i.e. when to breathe in and breathe out). The whole body stretching exercise is performed with a sitting position, ideally on an exercise mat. As mentioned above, the participants are required to conduct the stretching exercise by following the guidance video for at least 5 days weekly for at least 2 weeks duration. The video will be uploaded onto a webpage which requires participants to log in and view the video. The webpage and video will be accessible through computers and mobile phones.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Mindfulness intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Gentle body stretching with the incorporation of breathing technique

Non-mindfulness Arm

In this study, for control group, the participants are instructed with a similar video content as the intervention group, minus the incorporation of breathing technique, as breathing technique is hypothesised to be a key component of mindfulness.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Non-Mindfulness intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Gentle body stretching without the incorporation of breathing technique

Interventions

Mindfulness intervention

Gentle body stretching with the incorporation of breathing technique

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Non-Mindfulness intervention

Gentle body stretching without the incorporation of breathing technique

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Adult participants

Exclusion Criteria

• None

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Monash University Malaysia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Teoh Siew Li

Lecturer

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Siew Li Teoh, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Monash University Malaysia

Locations

Monash University Malaysia

Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Countries

Malaysia

References

Jong FJX, Lee CCW, Ting RS, Lin MH, Ong LK, Quek XF, Lee SWH, Ng ALO, Teoh SL. Effects of online mindful stretching exercises for loneliness, mindfulness, and hair cortisol: A mixed method study. Explore (NY). 2025 Jul-Aug;21(4):103204. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103204. Epub 2025 Jun 26.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40614537 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

180320201

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id