An Awareness, Courage, and Love Intervention to Help Chinese Older Adults in the Post-pandemic Era

An Awareness, Courage, and Love Intervention to Help Chinese Older Adults in the Post-pandemic Era: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential effectiveness of a one-session online Awareness, Courage, and Love intervention for reducing loneliness, depression and anxiety symptoms, and enhancing social connectedness and subjective well-being among older adults. the study also aims to estimate the effect sizes of the Awareness, Courage, and Love intervention.

The recruitment process will commence with referrals from local community organizations. Eligible individuals will be provided with detailed information about the study, and informed consent will be obtained from those willing to participate. After the confirmation of participant recruitment, a randomization process will be implemented to ensure the equitable distribution of participants between the intervention and waitlist control groups. An independent researcher will generate computer-generated random codes for group assignment, and these codes will be securely sealed in opaque envelopes. The envelopes will be sequentially numbered, and the randomization process will remain blinded throughout to prevent bias. Participants will be notified via email or text for the details of the condition they are assigned, and their willingness to engage in both the intervention and data collection will be confirmed.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. aged 60 years or older and dwelling in the community;
2. able to communicate in Cantonese;
3. have access to the internet and videoconferencing devices such as a mobile phone;
4. able to give informed consent to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. severe emotional distress based on PHQ-4 screening assessment or presenting an imminent suicidal risk;
2. known history of autism, intellectual disability, schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, or dementia/significant cognitive impairment;
3. illiterate;
4. difficulty in communication.