Improving Family Communication in Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT07494071 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: EA2601212501262488
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of "ReFrame-R," a communication training program designed to help older adults in Hong Kong navigate intergenerational challenges. By focusing on enhancing communication competence and clarifying role boundaries within parent-child relationships, the research seeks to determine if this specialized intervention can improve the mental well-being of both older and younger generations. The study asks whether participating in the "ReFrame-R" curriculum leads to measurable improvements in how families interact, hypothesizing that older adults in the training group will demonstrate significantly better communication quality and a stronger sense of meaning compared to those in a control group. This study also aims to evaluate the program's overall feasibility and acceptability.

Conditions

Intergenerational Relations

Keywords

Intergenerational Communication; Pilot randomized controlled trial; Meaning in life; Motivational interviewing; Parent adult±child relationship

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Perceived communication competence

  Participants' self-perceived communication competence is assessed using an 11-item scale adapted from the Family Communication Scale (FCS). The scale consists of 10 items adapted from the original FCS to measure perceived ability to engage in positive communication with adult children, plus an additional item regarding overall communicagtion competence. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale (1-5), with a total score ranging from 11 to 55. Higher scores indicate a higher level of perceived communication competence.

  Baseline, Week 4 (end of training), Week 6 (2 weeks follow-up)

• Meaning in life

  The 10-item Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ; Steger et al., 2006) is used. It consists of two subscales: presence of meaning (5 items) and search of meaning (5 items). Each subscale is rated on a 7-point scale, with summed scores are calculated (ranged 5-35 for each). Higher scores indicate stronger sense of purpose and motivation to find meaning, respectively.

  Baseline, Week 4 (end of training), Week 6 (2 weeks follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Self-efficacy

  Baseline, Week 4 (end of training), Week 6 (2 weeks follow-up)

• Well-being

  Baseline, Week 4 (end of training), Week 6 (2 weeks follow-up)

• Role boundaries

  Baseline, Week 4 (end of training), Week 6 (2 weeks follow-up)

• Family functioning

  Baseline, Week 4 (end of training), Week 6 (2 weeks follow-up)

• Training appropriateness

  Week 4 (end of training)

Study Arms (2)

ReFrame-R training

EXPERIMENTAL

The ReFrame-R comprises four weekly 90-minute group sessions (total 6 hours), supplemented by brief weekly individual consultations to troubleshoot barriers and reinforce home practice. Adapted from an existing MI protocol for lay people (Kline et al., 2022), the program is grounded in Family Systems Theory to address over-/underfunctioning dynamics in older parent-adult child relationships, while also emphasizing empathic listening and autonomy-supportive communication. An MI skills booklet will be distributed to support and record home practice.

Behavioral: ReFrame-R

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group will not receive active training during the study period. They will be provided with the same MI skills booklet for reference and self-directed practice.

Interventions

ReFrame-R BEHAVIORAL

The ReFrame-R program is adapted from an established Motivational Interviewing (MI) protocol for laypersons (Kline et al., 2022). Grounded in Family Systems Theory, the curriculum specifically addresses over-functioning and under-functioning dynamics often found in older parent-adult child dyads and the cultural specific context of Hong Kong. Unlike general communication workshops, this program emphasizes role boundaries within parent-adult child relationship.

ReFrame-R training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Cantonese-speaking older adults
• have regular contact with adult children
• can comprehend traditional Chinese

You may not qualify if:

• known mental health diagnosis
• mild or higher depressive symptoms (scored ≥5 on the Patient Health Questionnaire \[PHQ-9; Kroenke et al., 2001; Manea et al., 2015\])
• communication difficulties

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

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Central Study Contacts

Yee Man Branda Yu

CONTACT

+852-39173914; branda.yu@hku.hk

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2026
• First Posted: March 27, 2026
• Study Start: April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02