AnxietyNCT07737821
Improv Comedy to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Mental Well-Being in Young Chinese Adults in Hong Kong
A study testing Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) in people with Anxiety and Mental Health, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if improv comedy helps reduce anxiety symptoms and improve mental well-being in Chinese young adults in Hong Kong. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does improv comedy reduce anxiety symptoms? 2. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 29 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety, Mental Health
- What is being tested?
- Improv Against Anxiety (IAA)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 150 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 31 Aug 2026to 31 Aug 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 18 to 29 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Ethnic Chinese, fluent in spoken Mandarin and able to read Chinese
- Never married and without children
- No current or past diagnosis of any mental disorder (e.g. anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders)
- Mild to moderate anxiety symptoms (defined as a GAD-7 total score between 5 and 14)
- No prior experience of formal performance training in drama
- Availability to attend at least 3 out of 4 weekly sessions over the 4-week intervention period upon enrolment
Who cannot join
- Unstable or severe chronic physical illness that would contraindicate participation in group activities or light-to-moderate physical movement (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, severe asthma, acute cardiovascular events within the past 6 months)
- Moderately severe to severe depression symptoms (defined as a PHQ-9 total score greater than 14)
- Suicidal ideation (defined as a score greater than 0 on item 9 of the PHQ-9)
- Potential risky drinking behavior (defined as AUDIT-C total score greater than 4)
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
Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Haorui Li, 852 5956 3975, haorui_li@connect.hku.hk
About this study
Official title: An Improv Comedy Intervention to Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Mental Well-Being in Chinese Emerging Adults in Hong Kong: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if improv comedy helps reduce anxiety symptoms and improve mental well-being in Chinese young adults in Hong Kong. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does improv comedy reduce anxiety symptoms?
- Does improv comedy improve mental well-being?
Read more
Researchers will compare participants who join the improv comedy workshops to participants who are placed on a waiting list to receive the workshops later, to see if improv comedy reduces anxiety and improves mental well-being.
Participants will:
- Attend weekly three-hour improv comedy workshops for 4 consecutive weeks
- Complete four assessments and brief reflections during or around the workshop sessions
- Take part in up to two individual interviews (optional)
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Mental Health
- Being tested
- Improv Against Anxiety (IAA)
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Improv Against Anxiety (IAA)Behavioural
Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) is a structured, group-based improv comedy program consisting of four weekly 3-hour sessions. Sessions use established improv games and exercises to reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance mental well-bein
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) | Experimental | Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) is a structured, group-based improv comedy program consisting of four weekly 3-hour sessions. Sessions use established improv comedy games and exercises to reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance mental well-being. Receives: Behavioral: Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) |
| Waitlist Control | No intervention | Participants assigned to the waitlist control arm do not receive the IAA intervention during the main study period but complete the same assessment schedule as the experimental arm. During the wait period, they may seek or continue usual care from mental health professionals (treatment as usual). After all primary outcome assessments are completed, they are offered the opportunity to participate in the IAA intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mean change from baseline in anxiety symptoms measured by the GAD-7 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 2 (mid-treatment), Week 4 (post-intervention), and Week 6 (2-week follow-up)
Mean change from baseline in mental well-being measured by the WHO-5 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) ranges from 0 to 25, with higher scores indicating better mental well-being.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 2 (mid-treatment), Week 4 (post-intervention), and Week 6 (2-week follow-up)
Secondary outcomes (15)
Mean change from baseline in depression symptoms measured by the PHQ-9 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depression symptoms.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in worry measured by the PSWQ-A at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Penn State Worry Questionnaire - Abbreviated (PSWQ-A) ranges from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater worry.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in sleep disturbance measured by the ISI at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) ranges from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating greater sleep disturbance.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in perceived stress measured by the PSS-4 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4) ranges from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean changes from baseline in positive and negative affect measured by the I-PANAS-SF at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (I-PANAS-SF) consists of five items measuring positive affect and five items measuring negative affect. Each subscale ranges from 5 to 25, with higher scores indicating a stronger presence of that specific affect.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in loneliness measured by the ULS-6 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The 6-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-6) ranges from 6 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater loneliness.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in self-esteem measured by the RSES at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) ranges from 10 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher self-esteem.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in intolerance of uncertainty measured by the IUS-12 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The 12-item Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12) consists of two subscales: prospective intolerance of uncertainty (items 1-7; range 7-35) and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty (items 8-12; range 5-25). Higher scores on each subscale indicate greater intolerance of uncertainty in that domain.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in maximization tendency measured by the MTS-7 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The 7-item Maximizing Tendency Scale (MTS-7) ranges from 7 to 35, with higher scores indicating a greater tendency to choose the best option.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in fear of negative evaluation measured by the BFNE-S at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale-Straightforward Version (BFNE-S) ranges from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating a higher level of fear of negative evaluation.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in playfulness measured by the APTS-CN at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Adult Playfulness Trait Scale-Chinese Version (APTS-CN) consists of three subscales: fun-seeking motivation (nine items; range 9-45), uninhibitedness (five items; range 5-25), and spontaneity (five items; range 5-25). Higher scores on each subscale indicate greater playfulness in that domain.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in openness to experience measured by the CBF-PI-B at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Chinese Big Five Personality inventory brief version (CBF-PI-B) ranges from 8 to 48, with higher scores indicating greater openness to experience.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in fantastic reality ability measured by the FRAME-SF at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
The Fantastic Reality Ability Measurement-Short Form (FRAME-SF) consists of four subscales: coping (four items; range 4-28), control (two items; range 2-14), transcendence (four items; range 4-28), and playfulness (three items; range 3-21). Higher scores on each subscale indicate greater fantastic reality ability in that domain.
Measured: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Within-session change in state anxiety across four intervention sessions measured by the VAS-A
State anxiety will be assessed at the start and end of each intervention session using a single-item anxiety visual analog scale (VAS-A), a continuous line from 0 ("not at all anxious") to 100 ("extremely anxious"), with higher scores reflecting greater state anxiety. The outcome will be defined as the mean pre- to post-session change in VAS-A scores across the four sessions.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after each weekly intervention, at Weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Change in perceived group entitativity across four intervention sessions measured by the GEM-GP
The Group Entitativity Measure-Group Psychotherapy (GEM-GP) is a single-item, pictorial visual analog measure. It presents six configurations of circles that progressively move closer together. The central circle represents the respondent, and the surrounding four circles represent the other group members. Across the six images, the circles become increasingly close, illustrating a stronger sense of the group as a cohesive, unified entity. Participants select the configuration that best reflects how they currently experience the group; configurations with closer circles indicate higher perceived group entitativity.
Measured: Immediately after each weekly intervention, at Weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Jul 2026
- Study start31 Aug 2026
- Primary completion31 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07737821
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EA260474
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: We do not have current plans to share individual participant data.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Improv Comedy Intervention to Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Mental Well-Being in Chinese Emerging Adults in Hong Kong: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07737821
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EA260474
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Mental Health
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 31 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Jul 2026 (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 goal of this clinical trial is to learn if improv comedy helps reduce anxiety symptoms and improve mental well-being in Chinese young adults in Hong Kong. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does improv comedy reduce anxiety symptoms?
- Does improv comedy improve mental well-being?
Researchers will compare participants who join the improv comedy workshops to participants who are placed on a waiting list to receive the workshops later, to see if improv comedy reduces anxiety and improves mental well-being.
Participants will:
- Attend weekly three-hour improv comedy workshops for 4 consecutive weeks
- Complete four assessments and brief reflections during or around the workshop sessions
- Take part in up to two individual interviews (optional)
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) | Experimental | Behavioral: Improv Against Anxiety (IAA)Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) is a structured, group-based improv comedy program consisting of four weekly 3-hour sessions. Sessions use established improv comedy games and exercises to reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance mental well-being. |
| Waitlist Control | No intervention | –Participants assigned to the waitlist control arm do not receive the IAA intervention during the main study period but complete the same assessment schedule as the experimental arm. During the wait period, they may seek or continue usual care from mental health professionals (treatment as usual). After all primary outcome assessments are completed, they are offered the opportunity to participate in the IAA intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 29 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Ethnic Chinese, fluent in spoken Mandarin and able to read Chinese
- Never married and without children
- No current or past diagnosis of any mental disorder (e.g. anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders)
- Mild to moderate anxiety symptoms (defined as a GAD-7 total score between 5 and 14)
- No prior experience of formal performance training in drama
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Unstable or severe chronic physical illness that would contraindicate participation in group activities or light-to-moderate physical movement (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, severe asthma, acute cardiovascular events within the past 6 months)
- Moderately severe to severe depression symptoms (defined as a PHQ-9 total score greater than 14)
- Suicidal ideation (defined as a score greater than 0 on item 9 of the PHQ-9)
- Potential risky drinking behavior (defined as AUDIT-C total score greater than 4)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Improv Against Anxiety (IAA)Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) is a structured, group-based improv comedy program consisting of four weekly 3-hour sessions. Sessions use established improv games and exercises to reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance mental well-bein | Behavioural | Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) |
Primary outcome
Mean change from baseline in anxiety symptoms measured by the GAD-7 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 2 (mid-treatment), Week 4 (post-intervention), and Week 6 (2-week follow-up)
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms.
Mean change from baseline in mental well-being measured by the WHO-5 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 2 (mid-treatment), Week 4 (post-intervention), and Week 6 (2-week follow-up)
The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) ranges from 0 to 25, with higher scores indicating better mental well-being.
15 secondary outcomes
Mean change from baseline in depression symptoms measured by the PHQ-9 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in worry measured by the PSWQ-A at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in sleep disturbance measured by the ISI at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in perceived stress measured by the PSS-4 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean changes from baseline in positive and negative affect measured by the I-PANAS-SF at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in loneliness measured by the ULS-6 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in self-esteem measured by the RSES at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in intolerance of uncertainty measured by the IUS-12 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in maximization tendency measured by the MTS-7 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in fear of negative evaluation measured by the BFNE-S at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in playfulness measured by the APTS-CN at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in openness to experience measured by the CBF-PI-B at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Mean change from baseline in fantastic reality ability measured by the FRAME-SF at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6
Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)
Within-session change in state anxiety across four intervention sessions measured by the VAS-A
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after each weekly intervention, at Weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Change in perceived group entitativity across four intervention sessions measured by the GEM-GP
Time frame: Immediately after each weekly intervention, at Weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.
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 4 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. We do not have current plans to share individual participant data.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) in people with Anxiety and Mental Health, run by The 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 6 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Sep 2026. 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 Haorui Li (852 5956 3975, haorui_li@connect.hku.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Mean change from baseline in anxiety symptoms measured by the GAD-7 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6 (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 2 (mid-treatment), Week 4 (post-intervention), and Week 6 (2-week follow-up)). 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 4 Sep 2026.