Impact of Theater Experience on Older Adults Living in Retirement Communities

NCT04582370 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 000526106
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 84
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Theater is a complex, multi-component performing art. On stage, actors not only need to memorize the script, but also be able to portray emotion and feeling through movement and move in whichever manner is deemed appropriate by the script. Acting therefore requires as much movement as it does vocalization. As training exercises in theater naturally involve boosting physical, cognitive and affective function, and social relationships, theater experience can be used to promote health and wellness. Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the use of theater to promote health and wellness among older adults. Thus, the overall aim of this project is to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of a 10-week theory-based theater program on physical functioning and emotional stress among older adults. Hypothesis #1: Older adults residing in subsidized housing who participate in a theory-based theater program will demonstrate better physical functioning, and reduction in emotional stress than wait-list controls at the conclusion of a 10-week theater program. Hypothesis #2: The positive impact of the theater program on the residents' improved physical functioning and stress level will be maintained at 3-month follow-up.

Conditions

Aging

Keywords

Older adults; Theater; Physical functioning; Emotional stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Timed Up-and-Go

  The "timed Up-and-Go" (TUG) is a composite measure of functional mobility, including lower extremity power, balance, gait, and fall risk. Measured in absolute time (seconds), where lower time is a better score.

  baseline

• Timed Up-and-Go

  The "timed Up-and-Go" (TUG) is a composite measure of functional mobility, including lower extremity power, balance, gait, and fall risk. Measured in absolute time (seconds), where lower time is a better score.

  immediately post-intervention

• Timed Up-and-Go

  The "timed Up-and-Go" (TUG) is a composite measure of functional mobility, including lower extremity power, balance, gait, and fall risk. Measured in absolute time (seconds), where lower time is a better score.

  3-month follow up

Secondary Outcomes (18)

• Medical Outcomes Study Short Form

  baseline

• Medical Outcomes Study Short Form

  immediately post-intervention

• Medical Outcomes Study Short Form

  3-month follow up

• 2-minute step test

  baseline

• 2-minute step test

  immediately post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Theater program

EXPERIMENTAL

The design of the 10-week theater program is based on the principles of acting as written and practiced by Constantin Stanislavski in his revolutionary text on acting: "An Actor Prepares" \[Stanislavsky C, 1989\]. The exercises target concentration, voice, physical skills, emotion memory, observation, and dramatic analysis and include 3 components: 1. Preparation for the Actor (which involves relaxation , collaboration, movement, posture, and vocality; 2. Learning the Components of the Repeatable Acting Process (which involves physicality, attention, and concentration); and 3. Synthesizing Components into Characterization (which involves creativity and emotional expression). Each of these components will be addressed during each of 20 sessions through the use of group warm ups, group ensemble exercises, and group recitations. Participants will perform physical, mental, and emotional exercises similar to those given to beginning acting students in traditional theater schools.

Behavioral: theater program

Wait-list control

NO INTERVENTION

During the study period, the control group will not receive any type of intervention. However, they will be offered the same theater program experience after the primary data collection period ends.

Interventions

theater program BEHAVIORAL

10-week theory-based theater program designed to improve their physical functioning and reduce emotional stress.

Theater program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 62 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 62 or older living in HUD-subsidized housing
• Residence in a subsidized apartment for at least one year.
• Able to carry on a daily conversation with or without hearing aids
• Intact cognition as indicated by a score of greater than 5 on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ)
• Ambulatory with or without aids, as the outcome measures require participants to perform static and dynamic balance, and walking activities.

You may not qualify if:

• Visual impairment that cannot be corrected with assistive devices
• Diagnosis of progressive neurodegenerative disorders (self-report)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alabama at Birmingham: lead

Study Sites (2)

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294-1212, United States

Location

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Stanislavsky C. An Actor Prepares. New York: Routledge; 1989.

  BACKGROUND

• Kirklin K, Qu H, Mayor E, Lowman JD, Gao J, Edwards L, Li P, Yuen HK. The "Method of Physical Action" in Theatre Training Improves Balance and Reduces Fall Risk in Older Adults Living in Subsidized Housing: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Innov Aging. 2025 May 6;9(6):igaf046. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igaf046. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 40600024 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director of Research

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 2, 2020
• First Posted: October 9, 2020
• Study Start: October 4, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 17, 2023
• Study Completion: April 17, 2023
• Last Updated: December 13, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)