Nostalgia Intervention on Alleviating Loneliness Amongst Older Adults
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Nostalgia intervention.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Loneliness. Basic parameters: from 60 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effects of a Nostalgia Intervention on Alleviating Loneliness Amongst Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Cluster-randomised Waitlist-controlled Trial
Overview
The proposed study will utilise a two-arm, cluster-randomised, waitlist-controlled trial to (1) examine the effects of the nostalgia intervention on loneliness, negative emotions, social connectedness, meaning in life and nostalgia amongst community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong; (2) investigate whether the effect of the nostalgia intervention on loneliness is mediated by improvements in negative emotions, social connectedness and meaning in life; and (3) explore the experiences and perceptions of older adults participating in the nostalgia interventions, focusing on their views regarding the impact of the intervention on their loneliness.
Detailed description
A convenience sample of 294 older adults from six participating community centres, with 49 participants from each centre. Eligible older adults will be randomly assigned to either a waitlist control group (n = 147) or an intervention group (n = 147). Both groups will receive standard community support services, whilst the intervention group will also participate in five weekly face-to-face nostalgia sessions (approximately 90 min each) in a group format. Additionally, a purposive subsample of 30 participants from the intervention group will be invited for focus group interviews.
The primary outcome (loneliness) and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), 3 months post-intervention (T2) and 6 months post-intervention (T3) using validated questionnaires. The investigators will analyse the quantitative data using a generalised estimating equation model with intention-to-treat and path analyses. The qualitative data will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings of this proposed study will inform healthcare professionals and policymakers, offering practical strategies to combat loneliness in this vulnerable group.
Interventions
- Behavioral Nostalgia intervention
Participants in the intervention group will receive the face-to-face nostalgia intervention weekly for 5 weeks (each session lasting approximately 90 minutes), with each group consisting of 5-8 older adults. The intervention consists of 5 sessions: Session 1 (understanding nostalgia and its benefits), Session 2-4 (music/ photos/ meaningful objects and nostalgia), Session 5 (reaffirming the benefits of nostalgia).
Primary outcome measures
- Emotional and social loneliness [Time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention]
- Existential Loneliness [Time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Negative emotions [Time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention.]
- Social connectedness [Time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention]
- Meaning in life [Time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention.]
- Nostalgia [Time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention]
- Experiences and perceptions of older adults in intervention group [Time frame: Assessed within 1 day (T1) after the intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- older adults aged 60 years or above
- residing in the community
- capable of speaking and understanding Chinese
- experiencing loneliness (scoring ≥3 on a three-item loneliness screening scale)
Exclusion criteria
- currently undergoing psychological intervention
- having a clinical diagnosis of mental illness
- being cognitively impaired (Abbreviated Mental Test score <6)
- having visual/language/communication difficulties
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07288671 · 2025.020-T