ResilienceNCT07631845
Music Breathing in Enhancing Resilience Among Elders at Risk of Mental Health Problems
A study testing Mindfulness-based music breathing intervention in people with Resilience and Anxiety, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based music breathing intervention in enhancing resilience (primary outcome), and in reducing anxiety, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and improving health-related quality of life (secondary outcomes) among… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Resilience, Anxiety, Depressive Symptom
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness-based music breathing intervention
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 8 Jun 2026to 31 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
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 above
- Able to read Chinese and communicate in Cantonese/Mandarin.
- Has mild to moderate anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, based on the - Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (i.e., a score of 8 or higher on either the anxiety or depression subscale)
Who cannot join
- Partcipants will be excluded if they have cognitive impairment, hearing loss, severe depression, known mental illness, or chronic illness.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of a Mindfulness-based Music Breathing Intervention in Enhancing Resilience Among Community-dwelling Elders at Risk of Mental Health Problems: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
The goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based music breathing intervention in enhancing resilience (primary outcome), and in reducing anxiety, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and improving health-related quality of life (secondary outcomes) among community-dwelling older adults at risk of mental health problems.
It is hypothesised that compared with the control group, participants in the intervention group will report enhanced resilience, reduced anxiety, depressive symptoms, and loneliness, and improved health-related quality of life immediately post-intervention.
Read the detailed description
Background:
Evidence shows that community-dwelling elders experience a myriad of life challenges related to psychosocial well-being, including loneliness, social isolation, and reduced social participation, which are associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, jeopardising their overall quality of life. Resilience, the capacity to adapt and maintain psychological well-being in stressful events, is a protective factor against emotional dysregulation and negative emotions. Music and mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as promising strategies for promoting psychological well-being among diverse populations. However, no research has yet been conducted to assess the effectiveness of an integrated music and mindfulness-based breathing intervention in enhancing resilience among elders at risk of mental health problems.
Design and subjects: A single-blind, two-arm parallel-group, prospective randomised controlled trial of a mindfulness-based music breathing intervention will be conducted in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines. 40 community-dwelling elders aged 65 years or above who has mild to moderate anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (i.e., a score of 8 or higher on either the anxiety or depression subscale) will be randomised 1:1 to intervention and control groups.
Instruments: Validated questionnaires, including the Chinese version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), the Chinese version of HADS, the Chinese version of the EQ-5D-3L and the Chinese version of the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale.
Interventions: Participants in the intervention group will receive a 4-week music plus mindfulness-based breathing program, consisting of one 60-minute face-to-face session per week. The sessions will be delivered in small groups (8-10 older adults per group) by a qualified music breathing practitioner. The intervention will follow a structured protocol developed by the research team and reviewed by a certified music-breathing therapist. Participants in the control group will receive usual care, which may include access to existing community-based services, health education, or leisure activities.
Main outcome measure: Data collection will be conducted at baseline (T0) and immediately post-intervention (T1). The primary outcome is levels of resilience. Secondary outcomes include anxiety levels and depressive symptoms, loneliness, and health-related quality of life.
- Being tested
- Mindfulness-based music breathing intervention, control group
- Keywords
- Mindfulness, Msuic, Breathing, Community-dwelling elders, Resilience, Mental health
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Respiratory Aspiration, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness-based music breathing interventionBehavioural
Participants in the intervention group will receive a 4-week music plus mindfulness-based breathing program, consisting of one 60-minute face-to-face session per week. The sessions will be delivered in small groups by a qualified music breathing practitioner. The intervention will follow a structured protocol developed by the research team and reviewed by a certified trained music-breathing therapist.
Each session will consist of four progressive breathing phases, including:
- Discovery Breathing - to increase awareness of breath and bodily sensations II. Triangular Breathing - to cultivate control and balance through rhythm III. Silent Breathing - to promote stillness and internal reflection IV. Music Breathing - to combine guided music listening with mindful breathing for emotional regulation
control groupBehavioural
Participants in the control group will receive usual care, which may include access to existing community-based services, health education, or leisure activities, but will not involve any structured music or mindfulness-based intervention.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-based music breathing intervention | Experimental | Participants in the intervention group will receive a 4-week music plus mindfulness-based breathing program, consisting of one 60-minute face-to-face session per week. The sessions will be delivered in small groups (8-10 older adults per group) by a qualified music breathing practitioner. The intervention will follow a structured protocol developed by the research team and reviewed by a certified music-breathing therapist. Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness-based music breathing intervention |
| Control group | Placebo comparator | Participants in the control group will receive usual care, which may include access to existing community-based services, health education, or leisure activities, but will not involve any structured music or mindfulness-based intervention. Receives: Behavioral: control group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Resilience
Elders' resilience will be measured by the Chinese version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher level of resilience.
Measured: Change from baseline to post-intervention (at 4-week follow-up).
Secondary outcomes (3)
Anxiety and depressive symptoms
The Chinese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) will be employed to evaluate anxiety and depressive symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 41, with higher scores indicating high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Measured: Change from baseline to post-intervention (at 4-week follow-up).
Health-related quality of life
The European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) will be used to evaluate the participants' health-related quality of life. The visual analogue scale will be used to measure the participant's perception of their overall health status from 0 to 100, with 0 being the worst imaginable health and 100 the best health.
Measured: Change from baseline to post-intervention (at 4-week follow-up).
Loneliness
The UCLA Loneliness Scale will be used to assess elders' levels of loneliness. Total score ranges from 20 to 80. A higher total score indicates a greater degree of subjective loneliness and social isolation.
Measured: Change from baseline to post-intervention (at 4-week follow-up).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Jun 2026
- Study start8 Jun 2026
- Primary completion31 Aug 2026
- Study completion31 Aug 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ResilienceStudies 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
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Cheung Tan, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Ankie Tan Cheung, PhD, MPhil, BN, Principal investigator, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07631845
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025.394
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 22 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No