LonelinessNCT07288671
Nostalgia Intervention on Alleviating Loneliness Amongst Older Adults
A study testing Nostalgia intervention in people with Loneliness, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Trial summary
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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Loneliness
- What is being tested?
- Nostalgia intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 294 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2026to 31 Dec 2028
- 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 60 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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)
Who cannot join
- currently undergoing psychological intervention
- having a clinical diagnosis of mental illness
- being cognitively impaired (Abbreviated Mental Test score <6)
- having visual/language/communication difficulties
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Effects of a Nostalgia Intervention on Alleviating Loneliness Amongst Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Cluster-randomised Waitlist-controlled Trial
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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Loneliness
- Being tested
- Nostalgia intervention
- Keywords
- loneliness, older adults, nostalgia intervention
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nostalgia interventionBehavioural
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).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Nostalgia intervention | Experimental | In addition to usual community support services, 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. Receives: Behavioral: Nostalgia intervention |
| Wait-list control | No intervention | Participants in the wait-list control group will receive usual community support services provided by the community centres they belong to. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Emotional and social loneliness
The Chinese version of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. This six-item scale scores range from 0 to 6, with higher score indicates higher level of loneliness. This scale demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.76) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.98-1.00), as well as a strong correlation with direct assessments of loneliness.
Measured: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention
Existential Loneliness
Existential Loneliness Questionnaire, which comprises 22 items focused on loneliness in social ties, loneliness in close relationships and the search for meaning in life. The scores range from 22 to 132, higher scores indicate higher level of existential loneliness. The questionnaire also demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90).
Measured: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention
Secondary outcomes (5)
Negative emotions
The Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale consists of 21 items that assess symptoms of depression (7 items), anxiety (7 items), and stress (7 items). Each subscale scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater levels of negative emotions. The Chinese version demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.92 to 0.94).
Measured: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention.
Social connectedness
The revised Social Connectedness Scale to measure the perceived connection of participants to others in their social environment. This scale comprises 20 items measuring four aspects: belongingness, closeness, support and satisfaction. The scores range from 20 to 120, higher scores indicate greater feelings of social connectedness. This scale demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.92) and validity.
Measured: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention
Meaning in life
Meaning in Life Questionnaire, which comprises 10 items measuring presence for and search for meaning in life, to measure meaning in life. The score ranges from 10 to 70, higher scores indicates stronger sense of meaning in life. The Chinese version demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.85).
Measured: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention.
Nostalgia
The Southampton Nostalgia Scale to measure participants' nostalgia. This scale comprises five items that measure the importance participants attribute to nostalgia and two items related to frequency of nostalgia. The scores range from 7 to 49, higher scores indicate a greater dispositional tendency toward nostalgia. This scale demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.93).
Measured: 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
Focus group interviews will be conducted to explore the experiences and perceptions of older adults in intervention group regarding their participation in nostalgia interventions and the impact of the intervention on their loneliness using an interview guide.
Measured: Assessed within 1 day (T1) after the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Dec 2025
- Study start1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Jun 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for LonelinessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Wait-list trial
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 294 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Cho Lee Wong, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Cho Lee Wong, PhD, Principal investigator, The Nethersole School of Nursing, CUHK
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07288671
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025.020-T
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 4 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 23 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of a Nostalgia Intervention on Alleviating Loneliness Amongst Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Cluster-randomised Waitlist-controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07288671
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025.020-T
- Conditions
- Loneliness
- Keywords
- loneliness, older adults, nostalgia intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 294 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Dec 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.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Wait-list trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Nostalgia intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Nostalgia interventionIn addition to usual community support services, 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. |
| Wait-list control | No intervention | –Participants in the wait-list control group will receive usual community support services provided by the community centres they belong to. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 60 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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)
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- currently undergoing psychological intervention
- having a clinical diagnosis of mental illness
- being cognitively impaired (Abbreviated Mental Test score <6)
- having visual/language/communication difficulties
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nostalgia interventionParticipants 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). | Behavioural | Experimental: Nostalgia intervention |
Primary outcome
Emotional and social loneliness
Time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention
The Chinese version of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. This six-item scale scores range from 0 to 6, with higher score indicates higher level of loneliness. This scale demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.76) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.98-1.00), as well as a strong correlation with direct assessments of loneliness.
Existential Loneliness
Time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention
Existential Loneliness Questionnaire, which comprises 22 items focused on loneliness in social ties, loneliness in close relationships and the search for meaning in life. The scores range from 22 to 132, higher scores indicate higher level of existential loneliness. The questionnaire also demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90).
5 secondary outcomes
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
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 23 Dec 2025.
- 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.
Cho Lee Wong, PhD principal investigator
The Nethersole School of Nursing, CUHK
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Nostalgia intervention in people with Loneliness, run by Chinese University of 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 4 inclusion and 4 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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 Cho Lee Wong, PhD (+852 39438166, jojowong@cuhk.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Emotional and social loneliness (time frame: Asessed at baseline (T0), immediate after (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 23 Dec 2025.