ISRCTN ISRCTN78426775
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN78426775
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
23/02/2016
Registration date
24/02/2016
Last edited
15/03/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Health problems, losing touch with people and death of a spouse and/or friends can be difficult experiences for the aging population. For these reasons, older people are especially vulnerable to feelings of loneliness and melancholy (sadness). There is a lot of evidence to suggest that feeling lonely and depressed can have a negative effect on physical health and can even lead to premature (early) death. Previous studies have shown that social relationships and active participation in social activities can help to maintain and promote good health in ageing people. This study will provide a range of different programs designed to improve social interaction amongst older people, including exercise, group social activities (such as day trips) and personal counselling sessions helping people to become more resilient and independent. The aim of this study is to find out whether taking part in social activities such as these can help to lower feelings of melancholy and loneliness in people in their late seventies.

Who can participate?
Adults aged between 75 and 79 who live at home and are feeling lonely or melancholy.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group are given the choice as to whether they would like to take part in an exercise, social activity or personal counselling program. For those who choose the exercise group, participants attend 20 hour-long sessions once a week for six weeks, in which they complete a variety of different exercises in groups led by a sports instructor. For those who choose the social activity groups, participants attend 20 two-hour-long sessions once a week for six weeks, in which they take part in activities such as arts and crafts or day trips. For those who choose the personal counselling group, they are able to meet with a counsellor on a one-to-one basis over the six week period as many times as suits their needs. In these sessions, participants are able to talk to a rehabilitation instructor who helps them to become more independent and take better care of their health and wellbeing. Those in the second group do not receive any additional counselling sessions of any kind during the six weeks of the study. At the start of the study, after the six week counselling period and then 3, 6 and 12 months later, participants in both groups are interviewed in order to find out if there has been any change to their mood and wellbeing.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants who take part in the counselling programs may feel less lonely and happier as they are able to spend time with others in the groups. There are no notable risks of taking part in this study.

Where is the study run from?
The study is run from the GeroCenter Foundation for Aging Research and Development and takes place at Sport Services of Jyväskylä (exercise sessions), Jyväskylä City Library (social activity sessions) and Jyväskylä Central Area Health Centre (personal counselling sessions) in Finland.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2008 to June 2010

Who is funding the study?
1. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Finland)
2. Finland’s Slot Machine Association (Finland)

Who is the main contact?
1. Professor Riku Nikander (scientific)
2. Mrs Katja Pynnönen (public)

Contact information

Prof Riku Nikander
Scientific

GeroCenter Foundation for Aging Research and Development
Rautpohjankatu 8
Jyväskylä
40700
Finland

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-2072-0510
Mrs Katja Pynnönen
Public

University of Jyvaskyla
Department of Health Sciences
PO Box 35
Jyväskylä
40014
Finland

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-3809-153X

Study information

Study designSingle-blinded randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Community
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleEffects of social and physical intervention on mental well-being in people aged between 75 and 79: A randomized controlled trial
Study acronymGoodMood-project
Study objectives1. The six month social and physical intervention decreases depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness, and increases perceived social togetherness compared to controls
2. The intervention increases quality of life and social and physical activity of participants
Ethics approval(s)The Ethics Committee of the Central Finland Health Care District, 16/09/2008, ref: 9E/2008
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedMental and psychosocial well-being: depressive symptoms, perceived mood and loneliness
InterventionAt baseline, all participants have one counselling meeting before being randomly allocated to intervention and control groups.

Control group: Participants receive no additional counselling for the duration of the study.

Interventions group: Participants are allowed to choose participating either in exercise, social activity, or personal counseling program.
1. Exercise group: Participants attend 20 weekly hour-long sessions guided by municipal sports instructors. The program is planned together with the participants, and the meetings involved various types of exercise.
2. Social activity groups: Participants attend 20 weekly two-hour-long sessions and are conducted by JAMK University of Applied Sciences. The sessions involve activities such as arts and creative methods, aesthetic experiences and day-trips.
3. Personal counseling group: Participants undergo personal counselling delivered by a rehabilitation instructor. The frequency and number of meetings are determined on a case-by-case basis (approximately 4-5 times per participant). The counselling sessions aim to promote subject's resources and self-efficacy with taking responsibility for one's health and well-being.

The total duration of the intervention is six months. Participants in both groups are interviewed at baseline and after six months during the 6-month trial. The follow-up measurements are conducted 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention ended. In addition, the participants of intervention group have auditory interviews after the intervention.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureNumber of depressive symptoms are measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale at baseline and 6 months (after the intervention).
Secondary outcome measures1. Perceived mood is measured using the question "How is your mood in general?", response options are: "Always or almost always melancholy", ""sometimes melancholy", or "almost always good", at baseline, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months
2. Feeling of loneliness are measured using the question "Do you feel yourself loneliness?", response options are: "Very rarely or not at all", ""sometimes", "often", or "always almost" at baseline, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months
3. Social togetherness is measured using the Social Provision Scale at baseline and 6 months
4. Subscales of Social Provision Scale: Attachment, Social integration, Guidance, Reliable alliance, Opportunity for nurturance, and Reassurance of worth are measured at baseline 6 months
5. Quality of life is measured using the The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) brief questionnaire at baseline and 6 months
6. Participation in activities outside home is measured at baseline 6 months using the questions “How often do you participate in exercise groups?” and “How often do you have self-directed exercise?”, response options are: “≥5 times per week”, “3-4 per week”, “1-2 times per week”, “less often than once a week”, and “no”. “How often do you participate in activities/hobbies outside home such as day care centers, organizations, clubs, activities in congregation, theatre, exhibitions, museums, library?”, response options are: “Daily or almost daily”, “at least once a week”, “2-3 times in month”, “once a month”, “few times in year”, “less often”, or “not at all”
Overall study start date01/06/2008
Completion date01/06/2010

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Other
Age groupSenior
SexBoth
Target number of participantsWhole population aged 75–79-year-old in the city center area of Jyväskylä in spring 2008, 1 167 persons, were sent information letter on the study. 985 persons were contacted via telephone to screen eligibility for the study. 475 (48 %) of the contacted persons met the inclusion criteria and were invited to participate. Of those 475 persons, 54 % was willing to participate. Thus, with equal allocation the 257 subjects were randomized into intervention (n=129) and control (n=128) groups. 87 % of them continued participating until the end of the study. The most general reasons for refusal were: not interested, considering the study unnecessary for him/herself, or poor health.
Total final enrolment223
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged between 75 and 79 years
2. Community-dwelling
3. Feeling loneliness and/or melancholy at least sometimes
4. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score over 21
5. Willing to participate
Key exclusion criteria1. Not feeling lonely and not feeling melancholy
2. Severe memory problems or MMSE < 20
3. Unwillingness to participate
4. Living in an institution
5. Severe health problems
Date of first enrolment02/09/2008
Date of final enrolment19/11/2008

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Finland

Study participating centres

GeroCenter Foundation for Aging Research and Development
Rautpohjankatu 8
Jyväskylä
40700
Finland
Sport Services of Jyväskylä
Kuntoportti 3
Jyväskylä
40700
Finland
City Library
Vapaudenkatu 39-41
Jyväskylä
40101
Finland
Central Area Health Centre
Tapionkatu 7
Jyväskylä
40100
Finland

Sponsor information

GeroCenter Foundation for Aging and Development
Research organisation

Rautpohjankatu 8
Jyväskylä
40700
Finland

Funders

Funder type

Government

Sosiaali- ja Terveysministeriö
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Social- och Hälsovårdsministeriet
Location
Finland
Finland’s Slot Machine Association

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/11/2016
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planResults will be published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals e.g. Aging and Mental Health.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/01/2018 Yes No
Other publications 06/07/2017 15/03/2023 Yes No

Editorial Notes

15/03/2023: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
23/09/2016: Publication reference added.