Fostering Prosocial Preventive Behaviours Through Awe
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: Awe intervention, Neutral imagination.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Infectious Diseases. Basic parameters: from 18 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
- Hong Kong
- 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
Fostering Prosocial Behaviours Against Infectious Diseases Through Awe: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
The goal of this randomized control trial is to investigate the impact pf awe on prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases among adults from Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does experiencing awe increase adults' intentions to engage in prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases, including vaccination, mask wearing, and social distancing? * Does the impact vary across three research sites?
Detailed description
This study will be conducted as a nested sub-study within a main longitudinal study implemented online. The baseline assessment of the longitudinal study was conducted between October and November 2025. Participants who agreed to be recontacted will be invited to join the randomized controlled trial (RCT) approximately four months after the baseline assessment, in February-March 2026. At that time, participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into either the intervention or control group.
Interventions
- Behavioral Awe intervention
The intervention is a three-step mini game named Hidden Picture Puzzle designed to induce the feeling of awe. In the game, participants will first see a picture of nature covered by six opaque blocks. They will be asked to guess the content of the picture. After making their choice, participants will be instructed to click the six blocks to gradually uncover the picture. Once all six blocks are removed, the full image will be revealed. In the final step, participants will be instructed to imagin - Behavioral Neutral imagination
For the control group, the mini game Hidden Picture Puzzle will also follow a three-step format, identical in structure to the intervention condition. However, the images provided will depict everyday objects (e.g., a bottle) rather than nature scenes. Similarly, when participants are asked to guess the content of the picture. After the participants finish uncovering the pictures, they will be asked to imagine their interaction with these daily objects and describe the features of the objects by
Primary outcome measures
- Intentions to participate in future preventive behaviours [Time frame: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation]
- Behavioural choices in the pandemic vignettes [Time frame: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Intentions to engage in social activities [Time frame: Immediately after they complete the game with manipulation]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Adults (age ≥18 years) who live in
- Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing) over the past one year
- Able to read and understand written Chinese or English
- Have access to the internet through computers, mobile phones, or tablets
Exclusion criteria
- Individuals with cognitive or linguistic difficulties that would prevent them from completing an online survey will be excluded.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
Study locations
Hong Kong · 1 center
- University of Hong Kong School of Public Health — Hong Kong
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07406529 · Socialconhealth2025