Nostalgia Intervention on Alleviating Loneliness Amongst Older Adults

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status: Begins enrollment in 6 months

Conditions: Loneliness

Treatments: Behavioral: Nostalgia intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07288671

2025.020-T

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 294 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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294 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental: Nostalgia intervention

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Nostalgia intervention

Wait-list control

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the wait-list control group will receive usual community support services provided by the community centres they belong to.