Music Breathing in Enhancing Resilience Among Elders at Risk of Mental Health Problems

NCT07631845 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025.394
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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 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.

Conditions

Resilience; Anxiety; Loneliness; Depressive Symptom; Health-related Quality of Life

Keywords

Mindfulness; Msuic; Breathing; Community-dwelling elders; Resilience; Mental health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 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.

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (at 4-week follow-up).

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Anxiety and depressive symptoms

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (at 4-week follow-up).

• Health-related quality of life

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (at 4-week follow-up).

• Loneliness

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (at 4-week follow-up).

Study Arms (2)

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.

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.

Behavioral: control group

Interventions

Mindfulness-based music breathing intervention BEHAVIORAL

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: I. 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

Mindfulness-based music breathing intervention

control group BEHAVIORAL

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.

Control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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)

You may not qualify if:

• Partcipants will be excluded if they have cognitive impairment, hearing loss, severe depression, known mental illness, or chronic illness.

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

Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Respiratory Aspiration; Psychological Well-Being

Interventions

Control Groups

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Personal Satisfaction

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Research Design; Methods

Study Officials

• Ankie Tan Cheung, PhD, MPhil, BN

  Chinese University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ankie Tan Cheung, PhD, MPhil, BN

CONTACT

+852 39430515; 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: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2026
• First Posted: June 8, 2026
• Study Start: June 8, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)