LonelinessNCT07021872
Reducing Loneliness Among Older Adults Through Enhancing Positive Affect
A study testing Tele-Positive Affect Intervention, Tele-Behavioral Activation Intervention and Tele-Friendly Visit in people with Loneliness, run by Education University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two psychosocial interventions-Tele-Positive Affect (Tele-PA) and Tele-Behavioral Activation (Tele-BA)-compared to active control (telephone-delivered friendly visit, Tele-FV) in reducing loneliness among older adults in Hong Kong. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Loneliness
- What is being tested?
- Tele-Positive Affect Intervention, Tele-Behavioral Activation Intervention and Tele-Friendly Visit
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 276 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 30 Jun 2025to 30 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- aged 65 years or older
- proficiency in Cantonese (over telephone)
- experiencing loneliness (defined as a score of ≥ 6 on the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale)
Who cannot join
- cognitive impairments
- psychiatric disorders, learning disabilities, or active suicidal ideation
- currently participating in other psychotherapy or psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing well-being
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
The Education University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Da Jiang, PhD, +85229488659, djiang@eduhk.hk
Xinyuan Peng, MSc, 85229487138, s1147990@s.eduhk.hk
About this study
Official title: Reducing Loneliness Among Older Adults Through Enhancing Positive Affect: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Ecological Momentary Assessments
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two psychosocial interventions-Tele-Positive Affect (Tele-PA) and Tele-Behavioral Activation (Tele-BA)-compared to active control (telephone-delivered friendly visit, Tele-FV) in reducing loneliness among older adults in Hong Kong.
Read the detailed description
Loneliness in older adults represents a critical public health challenge, associated with detrimental outcomes including depression, cardiovascular risks, cognitive decline, and elevated mortality. Despite existing interventions, significant gaps persist: most approaches neglect the affective dimension of loneliness, fail to address the core mechanism of perceived discrepancies between expected and actual social relationships, and inadequately account for age-related shifts in socioemotional goals. This randomized controlled trial addresses these limitations by evaluating two theoretically distinct telephone-delivered psychosocial interventions against an active comparator.
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
- Loneliness
- Being tested
- Tele-Positive Affect Intervention, Tele-Behavioral Activation Intervention, Tele-Friendly Visit
- Keywords
- Loneliness, Older Adults, Positive Affect, Behavioral Activation, Randomized Controlled Trials
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tele-Positive Affect InterventionBehavioural
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 InterventionBehavioural
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 VisitBehavioural
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Affect | Experimental | 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. Receives: Behavioral: Tele-Positive Affect Intervention |
| Behavioral Activation | Experimental | 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. Receives: Behavioral: Tele-Behavioral Activation Intervention |
| Friendly Visit | Active comparator | Participants in the Friendly Visit group will receive the Tele-FV Intervention as an active control. Receives: Behavioral: Tele-Friendly Visit |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Loneliness measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale
The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a reliable self-assessment tool designed to evaluate feelings of loneliness. Possible scores range from 1 (never) to 4 (always).
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Loneliness measured by De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale
The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale is a validated, self-reported instrument assessing loneliness. Possible scores range from 1 (yes) to 3 (no).
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Real-time Experiences on Ecological Momentary Assessment
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) is a research method used to collect data in real-time and in the participants' natural environments. It measures momentary loneliness, momentary actual affect examined by the short version of the AVI scale, current and expected locations (e.g., nature, home, public places), as well as details about their current and expected social interactions, including the type (i.e., alone, with spouse, family members), features (e.g., supportiveness, closeness, pleasantness, meaningfulness), and number (i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more than 5). Participants will also report on their current and expected activities, specifying the type (e.g., physical activity, working, cognitive activities) and characteristics (e.g., pleasantness, meaningfulness) of these activities.
Measured: Baseline and 2-week
Secondary outcomes (7)
Psychological Well-being on 6-point Psychological Well-being Scale
The Psychological Well-being Scale is a validated, self-reported instrument assessing Psychological Well-being. Possible scores range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree).
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Perceived Stress on 5-point Chinese Version of the Perceived Stress Scale
The Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale is a validated self-report tool used to measure Perceived Stress levels. Possible scores range from 0 (never) to 4 (very often).
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Symptoms of Depression on 4-point Chinese Version of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
PHQ-9 is a reliable self-report measure designed to evaluate Symptoms of depression. Possible scores range from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly everyday).
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Symptoms of Anxiety on 4-point Chinese Version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale
The Chinese version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale is a validated, self-reported instrument assessing Symptoms of depression. Possible scores range from 0 (not feeling at all) to 3 (most of the time).
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Cognitive Functioning on the Hong Kong Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment
The Hong Kong version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-HK) is a validated tool administered by clinicians to evaluate cognitive functioning, especially in older adults. Possible scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance.
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Perceived Social Support on 7-point Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support evaluates the social support derived from three key sources: family, friends, and significant others. Respondents rated each item on a 7-point Likert scale, where 1 represents "very strongly disagree" and 7 indicates "very strongly agree."
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Social Network on Lubben Social Network Scale at Month 3 and Month 6
The Lubben Social Network Scale is a validated, self-reported instrument assessing the social networks of participants. This scale comprises six items, with three focused on family connections (family subscale) and three addressing friendships (friend subscale). The overall score ranges from 0 to 30, with each subscale spanning from 0 to 15.
Measured: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jun 2025
- Study start30 Jun 2025
- Primary completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (38)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for LonelinessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- A three-armed randomized controlled trial
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 276 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Education University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Texas at Austin, City University of Hong Kong
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jiang Da, Education University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Da Jiang, PhD, Principal investigator, The Education University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07021872
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-2024-0179
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 6 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 17 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
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.
PubMed 21193179Wong 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.
PubMed 19672065Spitzer 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.
PubMed 10568646Ryff 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.
PubMed 7473027Verstaen 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.
PubMed 33981167Orgeta 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.
PubMed 28982660Nasreddine 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.
PubMed 15817019Moskowitz 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.
PubMed 22021272Moskowitz 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.
PubMed 31045422Moskowitz 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.
PubMed 28333512Mccullough 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.
PubMed 11811629Lubben 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.
PubMed 16921004Lindsay 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.
PubMed 30550321Lindsay 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.
PubMed 30808743Leung 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.
PubMed 18590603
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Reducing Loneliness Among Older Adults Through Enhancing Positive Affect: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Ecological Momentary Assessments
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07021872
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2023-2024-0179
- Conditions
- Loneliness
- Keywords
- Loneliness, Older Adults, Positive Affect, Behavioral Activation, Randomized Controlled Trials
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 276 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Education University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Texas at Austin, City University of Hong Kong
- Study start
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two psychosocial interventions-Tele-Positive Affect (Tele-PA) and Tele-Behavioral Activation (Tele-BA)-compared to active control (telephone-delivered friendly visit, Tele-FV) in reducing loneliness among older adults in Hong Kong.
Detailed description
Loneliness in older adults represents a critical public health challenge, associated with detrimental outcomes including depression, cardiovascular risks, cognitive decline, and elevated mortality. Despite existing interventions, significant gaps persist: most approaches neglect the affective dimension of loneliness, fail to address the core mechanism of perceived discrepancies between expected and actual social relationships, and inadequately account for age-related shifts in socioemotional goals. This randomized controlled trial addresses these limitations by evaluating two theoretically distinct telephone-delivered psychosocial interventions against an active comparator.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- A three-armed randomized controlled trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Affect | Experimental | Behavioral: Tele-Positive Affect InterventionParticipants in the Positive Affect group will receive the Tele-PA Intervention to test the effects of the intervention in reducing loneliness among older adults. |
| Behavioral Activation | Experimental | Behavioral: Tele-Behavioral Activation InterventionParticipants in the Behavioral Activation group will receive the Tele-BA Intervention to test the effects of the intervention in reducing loneliness among older adults. |
| Friendly Visit | Active comparator | Behavioral: Tele-Friendly VisitParticipants in the Friendly Visit group will receive the Tele-FV Intervention as an active control. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- aged 65 years or older
- proficiency in Cantonese (over telephone)
- experiencing loneliness (defined as a score of ≥ 6 on the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale)
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- cognitive impairments
- psychiatric disorders, learning disabilities, or active suicidal ideation
- currently participating in other psychotherapy or psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing well-being
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Tele-Positive Affect InterventionA 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. | Behavioural | Positive Affect |
| Tele-Behavioral Activation InterventionA 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. | Behavioural | Behavioral Activation |
| Tele-Friendly VisitAn 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. | Behavioural | Friendly Visit |
Primary outcome
Loneliness measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a reliable self-assessment tool designed to evaluate feelings of loneliness. Possible scores range from 1 (never) to 4 (always).
Loneliness measured by De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale is a validated, self-reported instrument assessing loneliness. Possible scores range from 1 (yes) to 3 (no).
Real-time Experiences on Ecological Momentary Assessment
Time frame: Baseline and 2-week
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) is a research method used to collect data in real-time and in the participants' natural environments. It measures momentary loneliness, momentary actual affect examined by the short version of the AVI scale, current and expected locations (e.g., nature, home, public places), as well as details about their current and expected social interactions, including the type (i.e., alone, with spouse, family members), features (e.g., supportiveness, closeness, pleasantness, meaningfulness), and number (i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more than 5). Participants will also report on their current and expected activities, specifying the type (e.g., physical activity, working, cognitive activities) and characteristics (e.g., pleasantness, meaningfulness) of these activities.
7 secondary outcomes
Psychological Well-being on 6-point Psychological Well-being Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Perceived Stress on 5-point Chinese Version of the Perceived Stress Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Symptoms of Depression on 4-point Chinese Version of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Symptoms of Anxiety on 4-point Chinese Version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Cognitive Functioning on the Hong Kong Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Perceived Social Support on 7-point Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Social Network on Lubben Social Network Scale at Month 3 and Month 6
Time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Jul 2025.
- Results publication: PubMed 21193179Yu 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 19672065Wong 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 10568646Spitzer 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 7473027Ryff 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 33981167Verstaen 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 28982660Orgeta 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 15817019Nasreddine 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 22021272Moskowitz 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 31045422Moskowitz 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 28333512Moskowitz 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 11811629Mccullough 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 16921004Lubben 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.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Da Jiang, PhD principal investigator
The Education University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tele-Positive Affect Intervention, Tele-Behavioral Activation Intervention and Tele-Friendly Visit in people with Loneliness, run by Education University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Da Jiang, PhD (852 2948 8659, djiang@eduhk.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Loneliness measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale (time frame: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07021872, which also lists 38 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Jul 2025.