Musical Training to Enhance Resilience of Underprivileged School-aged Children

NCT07165925 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CRE-2024.498
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 174
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a multi-centre randomised controlled trial aims to examine the effects of a group-based gamified instrumental musical training in enhancing resilience (primary outcome), reducing psychological distress (depressive symptoms and anxiety), enhancing self-esteem, and improving HRQoL (secondary outcomes) among underprivileged school-aged children at risk of mental health problems (depression and anxiety) during a 12-month follow-up.

Conditions

Resilience; Depressive Symptom; Anxiety

Keywords

Musical training; Resilience; underprivileged children; mental health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Resilience

  Children's resilience will be measured by the Resilience Scale for Children- 10 (RS10) which was developed based on the Resilience Scale originally developed by Wagnild and Young. Total scores ranging from 10 to 40, with higher scores indicate higher levels of resilience.

  Change from baseline to 12-month post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Social competence aspect of resilience

  Change from baseline to 12-month post-intervention

• Depressive symptoms

  Change from baseline to 12-month post-intervention

• Anxiety

  Change from baseline to 12-month post-intervention

• Self-esteem

  Change from baseline to 12-month post-intervention

• Quality of life

  Change from the baseline to 12-month post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Gamified musical training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the gamified musical training group will receive weekly 1-hour lessons on a musical instrument for 6 months, delivered by professionally certified musicians. The intervention will be conducted in small groups (7-8 children/group). Two types of musical instruments (keyboard and ukulele) will be assigned to the participants based on their preferences.

Behavioral: Gamified music training

Active placebo control group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants in the active placebo control group will participate in weekly 1-hour group-based (7-8 children/group) indoor community leisure activities for 6 months.

Behavioral: Active placebo intervention

Interventions

Gamified music training BEHAVIORAL

Instrumental musical training will progress from basic (playing simple notes) to advanced levels (playing an entire song). Key training elements will include fundamental music knowledge and skills, music improvisation, rhythm, and pitch identification exercises. In particular, the core concepts of resilience will be incorporated into the training process through various gamified music activities.

Gamified musical training

Active placebo intervention BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the active placebo control group will participate in weekly 1-hour group-based indoor community leisure activities for 6 months. These activities will include (i) drawing, (ii) drama workshops, (iii) cartoon film screenings, (iv) handcraft workshops, (v) board games, and (vi) exercise classes. Each activity will span for four sessions, that is, totally 24 sessions and will be delivered by trained staff at the study centres of the collaborating non-governmental organisations.

Active placebo control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 8 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Hong Kong Chinese children aged 8-12 years.
• Able to read Chinese and communicate in Cantonese/Mandarin.
• From low-income families.
• Have a risk of mental health problems, specifically depression and/or anxiety (determined through screening during the recruitment process using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, with a cut-off score of ≥16 indicating a high risk of depression, and/or the State Anxiety Scale for Children, with scores between 36 and 60 indicating a significant level of anxiety)

You may not qualify if:

• Have chronic health conditions, cognitive and learning difficulties
• if they or their siblings are currently receiving or have received any music-based interventions before the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders; Personal Satisfaction

Central Study Contacts

Tan Cheung, PhD, MPhil

CONTACT

+85239430515; ankiecheung@cuhk.edu.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2025
• First Posted: September 10, 2025
• Study Start: September 8, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2027
• Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)