Improv Comedy to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Mental Well-Being in Young Chinese Adults in Hong Kong

NCT07737821 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EA260474
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if improv comedy helps reduce anxiety symptoms and improve mental well-being in Chinese young adults in Hong Kong. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.Does improv comedy reduce anxiety symptoms?
2. 2.Does improv comedy improve mental well-being?
3. 3.Attend weekly three-hour improv comedy workshops for 4 consecutive weeks
4. 4.Complete four assessments and brief reflections during or around the workshop sessions
5. 5.Take part in up to two individual interviews (optional)

Conditions

Anxiety; Mental Health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Mean change from baseline in anxiety symptoms measured by the GAD-7 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

  The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms.

  Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 2 (mid-treatment), Week 4 (post-intervention), and Week 6 (2-week follow-up)

• Mean change from baseline in mental well-being measured by the WHO-5 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

  The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) ranges from 0 to 25, with higher scores indicating better mental well-being.

  Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 2 (mid-treatment), Week 4 (post-intervention), and Week 6 (2-week follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes (15)

• Mean change from baseline in depression symptoms measured by the PHQ-9 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

  Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)

• Mean change from baseline in worry measured by the PSWQ-A at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

  Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)

• Mean change from baseline in sleep disturbance measured by the ISI at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

  Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)

• Mean change from baseline in perceived stress measured by the PSS-4 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

  Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)

• Mean changes from baseline in positive and negative affect measured by the I-PANAS-SF at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

  Baseline (pre intervention), Week 2 (mid treatment), Week 4 (post intervention), and Week 6 (2 week follow up)

Study Arms (2)

Improv Against Anxiety (IAA)

EXPERIMENTAL

Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) is a structured, group-based improv comedy program consisting of four weekly 3-hour sessions. Sessions use established improv comedy games and exercises to reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance mental well-being.

Behavioral: Improv Against Anxiety (IAA)

Waitlist Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to the waitlist control arm do not receive the IAA intervention during the main study period but complete the same assessment schedule as the experimental arm. During the wait period, they may seek or continue usual care from mental health professionals (treatment as usual). After all primary outcome assessments are completed, they are offered the opportunity to participate in the IAA intervention.

Interventions

Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) BEHAVIORAL

Improv Against Anxiety (IAA) is a structured, group-based improv comedy program consisting of four weekly 3-hour sessions. Sessions use established improv games and exercises to reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance mental well-bein

Improv Against Anxiety (IAA)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 29 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Ethnic Chinese, fluent in spoken Mandarin and able to read Chinese
• Never married and without children
• No current or past diagnosis of any mental disorder (e.g. anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders)
• Mild to moderate anxiety symptoms (defined as a GAD-7 total score between 5 and 14)
• No prior experience of formal performance training in drama
• Availability to attend at least 3 out of 4 weekly sessions over the 4-week intervention period upon enrolment

You may not qualify if:

• Unstable or severe chronic physical illness that would contraindicate participation in group activities or light-to-moderate physical movement (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, severe asthma, acute cardiovascular events within the past 6 months)
• Moderately severe to severe depression symptoms (defined as a PHQ-9 total score greater than 14)
• Suicidal ideation (defined as a score greater than 0 on item 9 of the PHQ-9)
• Potential risky drinking behavior (defined as AUDIT-C total score greater than 4)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Haorui Li

CONTACT

852 5956 3975; haorui_li@connect.hku.hk

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: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2026
• First Posted: July 30, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2028
• Last Updated: July 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)