Impact of Snoezelen Intervention and Reminiscence Therapy on Seniors' Emotionality and Anxiety

NCT07374887 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: UGA-06-DS-202509I03-03-V05-00009
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 55
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to verify and compare the short-term and long-term effectiveness (retention) of Snoezelen intervention and reminiscence therapy and to analyze the dynamics of changes in the level of emotionality and anxiety of seniors in experimental groups and the control group. The main question is: There are significant differences in the level of emotionality (negative and positive emotional states) and anxiety between the two experimental groups of seniors and the control group of seniors during the measurements (pre-test measurement vs. retest measurement I; pre-test measurement vs. retest measurement II; retest measurement vs. retest measurement II)? Researchers will compare seniors receiving Snoezelen intervention, those receiving Reminiscence Therapy, and a control group without intervention to see if the interventions lead to measurable improvements in emotionality and anxiety. Participants will take part in Snoezelen sessions, take part in Reminiscence Therapy sessions, complete pretest, retest and retest II assessments measuring emotionality and anxiety.

Conditions

Emotionality; Anxiety

Keywords

emotionality; anxiety; elderly care facilities; older adult; snoezelen; reminiscence therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The Scale of Emotional Habituation of Subjective Well-Being - SEHP (Džuka & Dalbert, 2002)

  The Scale of Emotional Habituation of Subjective Well-Being - SEHP (Džuka \& Dalbert, 2002) was used to examine the short-term effectiveness of the intervention programme. The self-esteem scale maps the frequency of experiencing positive and negative emotions, totalling 10. Negative emotional experiencing consists of six emotions such as anger, guilt, fear, pain, sadness, and shame, positive emotional experiencing consists of pleasure, physical freshness, joy, and happiness. The participants responded on a six-point scale (6 - almost always; 1 - almost never). The total score of negative emotions is the sum of negative emotions, and the total score of positive emotions is the sum of positive emotions (Džuka et al., 2021).

  from participant enrollment to data collection after 8 months

• The Anxiety and Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI (Spielberger et al., 1970, ed. Ruisel et al., 1980)

  The Anxiety and Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI (Spielberger et al., 1970, ed. Ruisel et al., 1980), specifically only the anxiety portion of the questionnaire, i.e., the Scale for the Measurement of Anxiety as a Condition, STAI X-1. This is the self-assessment portion of the questionnaire, which maps the degree of current experience of feelings of tension, tenseness, nervousness, fear, and apprehension. It contains 20 statements, some of which relate to the existence of these feelings and some of which relate to their absence. Seniors rated their experiencing on a four-point scale (4 - very, 1 - not at all). We based the norms on those presented in the manual by Ruisel et al. (1980).The result is a total score, which is obtained by summing the values on the scale taking into account reverse scaling. The range of the total score is 20-80.

  from participant enrollment to data collection after 8 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Reflection Questionnaire (Ďuricová, 2023)

  one month

Study Arms (3)

Snoezelen intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The Snoezelen intervention involved 20 participants in the pre-test and re-test, and 16 participants in the re-test.

Other: Snoezelen intervention

Reminiscence therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

The reminiscence therapy involved 20 seniors in the pre-test and re-test, and 18 seniors in the re-test II.

Other: Reminiscence therapy

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

The control group did not participate in any of the interventions.

Interventions

Reminiscence therapy OTHER

Reminiscence therapy included 13 activities (Ďuricová, 2026b). Activities were also incorporated into the daily schedule over a period of four weeks, during weekdays. In the Hriňovčan care facility, one activity was conducted daily (lasting 60 minutes) in the common room during designated morning and afternoon hours. The selection and implementation of the activities were strictly determined and organised. The older adults participated in a group setting, with 20 members. The activities were led by two social workers who participated in training with the author of the programme.

Reminiscence therapy

Snoezelen intervention OTHER

Snoezelen intervention included 28 originally designed activities (Ďuricová, 2026a). The ideas were incorporated into the daily schedule of older adults over a period of four weeks, during weekdays. In Hriňovčan care facility, within the Snoezelen environment, two consecutive activities were carried out daily (with a total duration of 60 minutes), during the afternoon hours. The selection of activities depended on the interests of the older adults. Their application was neither strictly determined nor rigidly organised. Clients participated in the Snoezelen sessions in groups of 5-6 members. The activities were facilitated by trained staff - social worker and instructor of social rehabilitation.

Snoezelen intervention

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• long-term residence in the facility,
• age over 62,
• willingness to participate,
• ability to participate (no severe cognitive or physical impairments)
• mentioned above
• participants who have undergone Reminiscence therapy as part of previous research

You may not qualify if:

• significant physical problems,
• significant mental health problems,
• unwillingness to participate

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Matej Bel University: lead
• European Union: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Hriňovčan care facility for older adults, Hriňová, Slovakia 96205

Hriňová, Slovakia, 96205, Slovakia

Location

Related Links

• website of the organization where the research was conducted

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Diana Ďuricová, PhDr.

  Matej Bel University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Lenka Ďuricová, doc., Mgr., PhD.

  Matej Bel University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 21, 2026
• First Posted: January 29, 2026
• Study Start: October 26, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2022
• Study Completion: September 30, 2023
• Last Updated: January 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SL (1)