Narrative Therapy Among Young People With Moderate Level of Mental Distress in Hong Kong

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

770 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-11-25

Study Completion Date

2027-08-31

Brief Summary

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This cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a narrative therapy (NT) intervention in (i) reducing mental distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety, as well as (ii) enhancing perceived control and fostering a stronger sense of self among at-risk youth in Hong Kong. Participants are youths with moderate mental health concerns, indicated by K6 scores ranging from 11 to 14.

The study involves seven clusters, each based on community hubs, which will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a wait-list control group. Clusters assigned to the intervention group will receive six face-to-face sessions led by trained youth workers. Control clusters will receive the same intervention after the initial follow-up period.

Participants will be evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. An interim analysis is built for the sake of evaluation of the collected data from the ongoing trial, in which the primary research question is addressed, and which has the potential for modifying the conduct of the study. Furthermore, a qualitative follow-up will be conducted after the trial, involving both participants and the workers delivering the NT intervention. This qualitative component aims to gather feedback on participants' experiences, and inform potential revisions to enhance future implementation.

It is hypothesized that youths receiving the NT intervention will show significantly greater improvements in perceived control and sense of self, along with reductions in mental distress, as well as depressive and anxiety symptoms, compared to those in the wait-list control group.

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Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Mental Distress

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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NT Intervention

This narrative therapy intervention will: (i) facilitate shared experiences among participants, (ii) support the reconstruction of personal identity, (iii) promote collective wisdom-sharing and skill development; and (iv) foster solidarity in imagining diverse life possibilities. This approach empowers young people to critically engage with dominant narratives and discover their own authentic paths. The NT intervention consists of six sessions, conducted in a small-group format (6 - 8 participants per group). Youths at similar life stages, such as secondary students, university students, and early-career young professionals, will be grouped together to encourage meaningful discussions and shared experiences. The program consists of six sessions, with the first five lasting 1.5 hours each, and the final session (Section 6) extending to 2 hours for a comprehensive closing. All sessions will be conducted face-to-face by frontline social or youth workers who have received prior training,

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Narrative Therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

In Hong Kong, deeply ingrained norms and expectations shape each stage of life. As young people navigate their growth, they are constantly influenced by mainstream narratives stemming from sociocultural traditions, family, educators, peers, or social media. These narratives often define socially approved notions of "good" versus "bad," "meaningful" versus "meaningless," and "successful" versus "failing." Many youths may not fully realize how these dominant discourses subtly influence their life choices, often leading them to unconsciously accept predetermined paths they believe they "should" follow. Whether they conform successfully or struggle with these expectations, young people frequently experience pressure and negative emotions. Even more concerning, some internalize these societal judgments, resulting in negative self-perceptions. Through this group program utilizing narrative intervention methods, we aim to provide a safe, supportive space for youth to re-examine and explore th

Waitlist Control

Participants allocated to the waitlist control group will wait for 10 weeks (6 + 4 weeks) before receiving the NT intervention

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Narrative Therapy

In Hong Kong, deeply ingrained norms and expectations shape each stage of life. As young people navigate their growth, they are constantly influenced by mainstream narratives stemming from sociocultural traditions, family, educators, peers, or social media. These narratives often define socially approved notions of "good" versus "bad," "meaningful" versus "meaningless," and "successful" versus "failing." Many youths may not fully realize how these dominant discourses subtly influence their life choices, often leading them to unconsciously accept predetermined paths they believe they "should" follow. Whether they conform successfully or struggle with these expectations, young people frequently experience pressure and negative emotions. Even more concerning, some internalize these societal judgments, resulting in negative self-perceptions. Through this group program utilizing narrative intervention methods, we aim to provide a safe, supportive space for youth to re-examine and explore th

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* JC LevelMind @ Community users at risk for mental distress (Tier 2), with K6 scores ranging from 11 to 14
* Aged between 12 and 24 years
* Sufficiently proficient in Chinese to comprehend verbal instructions
* Able to provide written informed consent (parental consent for participant aged 12-17)

Exclusion Criteria

* Known diagnosis of intellectual disability
* Organic brain disorder
* Established psychiatric diagnosis
* Current substance abuse
* Receiving other structured psychological therapies such as module-based psychological therapy, mentalization-based therapy, low-intensity online interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia, mindfulness, or art-informed therapy within the hub setting or any others outside the hub setting
* Presence of current or active suicidal ideation or attempts

Minimum Eligible Age

12 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

24 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No