Reducing Loneliness Among Older Adults Through Enhancing Positive Affect
NCT ID: NCT07021872
Last Updated: 2025-07-17
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
RECRUITING
NA
276 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-06-30
2026-11-30
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
Related Clinical Trials
Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.
Reducing Loneliness Among Older Adults in Hong Kong by Volunteer-delivered Mindfulness and Behavioral Activation Intervention
NCT07283549
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based Intervention for Loneliness Among Older Adults Living Alone
NCT06719843
Nostalgia Intervention on Alleviating Loneliness Amongst Older Adults
NCT07288671
Developing and Testing a Machine Learning Enabled Mindfulness Intervention for Reducing Loneliness Among Hong Kong Chinese Older Adults
NCT07308613
Mind-Body Intervention for Older Adults in Long-term Care
NCT06932731
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
The study employs a three-arm design to compare a 4-week Tele-Positive Affect (Tele-PA) intervention grounded in the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotion, which aims at increasing positive affect through eight evidence-based skills (e.g., gratitude, mindfulness, positive reappraisal), and a Tele-Behavioral Activation (Tele-BA) intervention derived from the behavioral explanations of learning theory, focusing on behavior monitoring and strategies, valued activity scheduling, and social skill enhancement. Both are contrasted with Tele-Friendly Visit (FV)-an active control condition comprising matched-frequency neutral conversations devoid of therapeutic components.
Community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years in Hong Kong with significant loneliness will be randomized to these arms. Using a three-arm, assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial, outcomes will be measured through retrospective surveys and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) at baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 2), and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Primary analyses will examine: 1) the comparative efficacy of Tele-PA and Tele-BA versus the active control in reducing loneliness; 2) differential effectiveness of Tele-PA versus Tele-BA; 3) the mechanisms underlying the effects of Tele-PA and Tele-BA; and 4) the effects of age on the effectiveness.
This research pioneers the integration of affective science with loneliness intervention design while employing EMA to capture mechanistic dynamics. Findings will advance precision approaches for alleviating loneliness in aging populations through scalable, theory-informed strategies.
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
PREVENTION
SINGLE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
Positive Affect
Participants in the Positive Affect group will receive the Tele-PA Intervention to test the effects of the intervention in reducing loneliness among older adults.
Tele-Positive Affect Intervention
A 4-week intervention consisting of eight skills aimed at enhancing positive affect, delivered via telephone by trained facilitators. Participants will learn skills such as gratitude, mindfulness, and positive reappraisal, with sessions held twice a week.
Behavioral Activation
Participants in the Behavioral Activation group will receive the Tele-BA Intervention to test the effects of the intervention in reducing loneliness among older adults.
Tele-Behavioral Activation Intervention
A 4-week intervention designed to promote engagement in meaningful activities, delivered through telephone by trained facilitators. The intervention will include behavior monitoring, activity planning, and social skills enhancement, with sessions held twice a week.
Friendly Visit
Participants in the Friendly Visit group will receive the Tele-FV Intervention as an active control.
Tele-Friendly Visit
An active control condition consisting of telephone-delivered friendly visits. Participants will engage in social conversation and activities to provide companionship without any specific skills training aimed at reducing loneliness. The intervention will be held within 4-week.
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
Tele-Positive Affect Intervention
A 4-week intervention consisting of eight skills aimed at enhancing positive affect, delivered via telephone by trained facilitators. Participants will learn skills such as gratitude, mindfulness, and positive reappraisal, with sessions held twice a week.
Tele-Behavioral Activation Intervention
A 4-week intervention designed to promote engagement in meaningful activities, delivered through telephone by trained facilitators. The intervention will include behavior monitoring, activity planning, and social skills enhancement, with sessions held twice a week.
Tele-Friendly Visit
An active control condition consisting of telephone-delivered friendly visits. Participants will engage in social conversation and activities to provide companionship without any specific skills training aimed at reducing loneliness. The intervention will be held within 4-week.
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
* proficiency in Cantonese (over telephone)
* experiencing loneliness (defined as a score of ≥ 6 on the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale)
Exclusion Criteria
* psychiatric disorders, learning disabilities, or active suicidal ideation
* currently participating in other psychotherapy or psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing well-being
65 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
University of Texas at Austin
OTHER
City University of Hong Kong
OTHER
Education University of Hong Kong
OTHER
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Jiang Da
Associate Professor
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Da Jiang, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
The Education University of Hong Kong
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
The Education University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
Central Contacts
Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.
Facility Contacts
Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.
References
Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.
Yu X, Tam WW, Wong PT, Lam TH, Stewart SM. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for measuring depressive symptoms among the general population in Hong Kong. Compr Psychiatry. 2012 Jan;53(1):95-102. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.11.002. Epub 2010 Dec 28.
Wong A, Xiong YY, Kwan PW, Chan AY, Lam WW, Wang K, Chu WC, Nyenhuis DL, Nasreddine Z, Wong LK, Mok VC. The validity, reliability and clinical utility of the Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) in patients with cerebral small vessel disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2009;28(1):81-7. doi: 10.1159/000232589. Epub 2009 Aug 11.
Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB. Validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD: the PHQ primary care study. Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Patient Health Questionnaire. JAMA. 1999 Nov 10;282(18):1737-44. doi: 10.1001/jama.282.18.1737.
Ryff CD, Keyes CL. The structure of psychological well-being revisited. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1995 Oct;69(4):719-27. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.69.4.719.
Verstaen A, Moskowitz JT, Snowberg KE, Merrilees J, Dowling GA. Life Enhancing Activities for Family Caregivers of people with dementia: protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a positive affect skills intervention. Open Access J Clin Trials. 2018;10:1-12. doi: 10.2147/oajct.s150597. Epub 2018 Feb 7.
Orgeta V, Brede J, Livingston G. Behavioural activation for depression in older people: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Nov;211(5):274-279. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.117.205021. Epub 2017 Oct 5.
Nasreddine ZS, Phillips NA, Bedirian V, Charbonneau S, Whitehead V, Collin I, Cummings JL, Chertkow H. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA: a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Apr;53(4):695-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53221.x.
Moskowitz JT, Hult JR, Duncan LG, Cohn MA, Maurer S, Bussolari C, Acree M. A positive affect intervention for people experiencing health-related stress: development and non-randomized pilot test. J Health Psychol. 2012 Jul;17(5):676-92. doi: 10.1177/1359105311425275. Epub 2011 Oct 21.
Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, Dowling GA. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019 May;38(5):391-402. doi: 10.1037/hea0000680.
Moskowitz JT, Carrico AW, Duncan LG, Cohn MA, Cheung EO, Batchelder A, Martinez L, Segawa E, Acree M, Folkman S. Randomized controlled trial of a positive affect intervention for people newly diagnosed with HIV. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2017 May;85(5):409-423. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000188. Epub 2017 Mar 23.
Mccullough ME, Emmons RA, Tsang JA. The grateful disposition: a conceptual and empirical topography. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2002 Jan;82(1):112-27. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.82.1.112.
Lubben J, Blozik E, Gillmann G, Iliffe S, von Renteln Kruse W, Beck JC, Stuck AE. Performance of an abbreviated version of the Lubben Social Network Scale among three European community-dwelling older adult populations. Gerontologist. 2006 Aug;46(4):503-13. doi: 10.1093/geront/46.4.503.
Lindsay EK, Chin B, Greco CM, Young S, Brown KW, Wright AGC, Smyth JM, Burkett D, Creswell JD. How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2018 Dec;115(6):944-973. doi: 10.1037/pspa0000134.
Lindsay EK, Young S, Brown KW, Smyth JM, Creswell JD. Mindfulness training reduces loneliness and increases social contact in a randomized controlled trial. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Feb 26;116(9):3488-3493. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1813588116. Epub 2019 Feb 11.
Leung GT, de Jong Gierveld J, Lam LC. Validation of the Chinese translation of the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale in elderly Chinese. Int Psychogeriatr. 2008 Dec;20(6):1262-72. doi: 10.1017/S1041610208007552. Epub 2008 Jul 1.
Leung DY, Lam TH, Chan SS. Three versions of Perceived Stress Scale: validation in a sample of Chinese cardiac patients who smoke. BMC Public Health. 2010 Aug 25;10:513. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-513.
Lejuez CW, Hopko DR, Acierno R, Daughters SB, Pagoto SL. Ten year revision of the brief behavioral activation treatment for depression: revised treatment manual. Behav Modif. 2011 Mar;35(2):111-61. doi: 10.1177/0145445510390929.
Lay JC, Ho YW, Tse DCK, Tse JTK, Jiang D. Misremembering Solitude: The Role of Personality and Cultural Self-Concepts in Shaping Discrepancies Between Recalled and Concurrent Affect in Solitude. J Pers. 2025 Feb;93(1):174-192. doi: 10.1111/jopy.12971. Epub 2024 Aug 16.
Jiang D, Fung HH, Sims T, Tsai JL, Zhang F. Limited time perspective increases the value of calm. Emotion. 2016 Feb;16(1):52-62. doi: 10.1037/emo0000094. Epub 2015 Jul 27.
Jiang D. Feeling Gratitude Is Associated With Better Well-being Across the Life Span: A Daily Diary Study During the COVID-19 Outbreak. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2022 Apr 1;77(4):e36-e45. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa220.
Hou J, Wong SY, Lo HH, Mak WW, Ma HS. Validation of a Chinese version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Hong Kong and development of a short form. Assessment. 2014 Jun;21(3):363-71. doi: 10.1177/1073191113485121. Epub 2013 Apr 16.
Heinrich LM, Gullone E. The clinical significance of loneliness: a literature review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2006 Oct;26(6):695-718. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2006.04.002. Epub 2006 Jun 19.
Gross JJ, John OP. Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2003 Aug;85(2):348-62. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348.
Folkman S. The case for positive emotions in the stress process. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2008 Jan;21(1):3-14. doi: 10.1080/10615800701740457.
Folkman S. Positive psychological states and coping with severe stress. Soc Sci Med. 1997 Oct;45(8):1207-21. doi: 10.1016/s0277-9536(97)00040-3.
Ferster CB. A functional anlysis of depression. Am Psychol. 1973 Oct;28(10):857-70. doi: 10.1037/h0035605. No abstract available.
Fees BS, Martin P, Poon LW. A model of loneliness in older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1999 Jul;54(4):P231-9. doi: 10.1093/geronb/54b.4.p231.
Davidson EJ, Taylor CT, Ayers CR, Quach NE, Tu XM, Lee EE. The Relationship Between Loneliness and Positive Affect in Older Adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2022 Jun;30(6):678-685. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2021.11.002. Epub 2021 Nov 12.
Compernolle EL, Finch LE, Hawkley LC, Cagney KA. Momentary loneliness among older adults: Contextual differences and their moderation by gender and race/ethnicity. Soc Sci Med. 2021 Sep;285:114307. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114307. Epub 2021 Aug 6.
Cohn MA, Pietrucha ME, Saslow LR, Hult JR, Moskowitz JT. An online positive affect skills intervention reduces depression in adults with type 2 diabetes. J Posit Psychol. 2014 Jan 1;9(6):523-534. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2014.920410.
Chou KL, Jun LW, Chi I. Assessing Chinese older adults' suicidal ideation: Chinese version of the Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale. Aging Ment Health. 2005 Mar;9(2):167-71. doi: 10.1080/13607860412331336805.
Choi NG, Pepin R, Marti CN, Stevens CJ, Bruce ML. Improving Social Connectedness for Homebound Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial of Tele-Delivered Behavioral Activation Versus Tele-Delivered Friendly Visits. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020 Jul;28(7):698-708. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2020.02.008. Epub 2020 Mar 2.
Cheung EO, Cohn MA, Dunn LB, Melisko ME, Morgan S, Penedo FJ, Salsman JM, Shumay DM, Moskowitz JT. A randomized pilot trial of a positive affect skill intervention (lessons in linking affect and coping) for women with metastatic breast cancer. Psychooncology. 2017 Dec;26(12):2101-2108. doi: 10.1002/pon.4312. Epub 2016 Dec 27.
Chang Q, Sha F, Chan CH, Yip PSF. Validation of an abbreviated version of the Lubben Social Network Scale ("LSNS-6") and its associations with suicidality among older adults in China. PLoS One. 2018 Aug 2;13(8):e0201612. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201612. eCollection 2018.
Cacioppo S, Grippo AJ, London S, Goossens L, Cacioppo JT. Loneliness: clinical import and interventions. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015 Mar;10(2):238-49. doi: 10.1177/1745691615570616.
Baer RA, Smith GT, Hopkins J, Krietemeyer J, Toney L. Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment. 2006 Mar;13(1):27-45. doi: 10.1177/1073191105283504.
Barg FK, Huss-Ashmore R, Wittink MN, Murray GF, Bogner HR, Gallo JJ. A mixed-methods approach to understanding loneliness and depression in older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 Nov;61(6):S329-39. doi: 10.1093/geronb/61.6.s329.
Akhter-Khan SC, Prina M, Wong GH, Mayston R, Li L. Understanding and Addressing Older Adults' Loneliness: The Social Relationship Expectations Framework. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2023 Jul;18(4):762-777. doi: 10.1177/17456916221127218. Epub 2022 Nov 2.
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
2023-2024-0179
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
More Related Trials
Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.