Effect of a Telephone Reminiscence Intervention on Mental Health

Part of paid clinical trials in Storrs, Connecticut.

Sponsor
University of Connecticut
Study ID
NCT07576855
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Mental Health

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
60 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Telephone Reminiscence Program — BEHAVIORAL
    The telephone reminiscence program is a 12-week behavioral intervention designed to support social connection and mental well-being among older adults living in rural areas. The program consists of automated telephone calls delivered up to three times per week that invite older adult participants to respond to simple, meaningful questions about their life experiences and memories. Participants may share as much or as little as they wish during each call and may end the call at any time. Informal caregivers associated with participating older adults may also take part by recording personalized questions or prompts in their own voice. The program does not require internet access, smartphones, or computer use.

Study Details

The goal of this study is to learn whether a telephone-based program that helps people share life memories can reduce loneliness and improve mental well-being, life satisfaction, and social support in older adults and their caregivers living in rural areas. This study has two parts. In the first part, researchers will gather feedback from a small group of older adults and informal caregivers to see if the updated telephone reminiscence program works well and is easy to use. In the second part, researchers will test the telephone reminiscence program in a clinical trial study to see whether the updated telephone reminiscence program reduces loneliness and improves social support, life satisfaction, and mental well-being in older adults and their caregivers. The researchers will also examine how the program impacts how often and for what reason you reminisce. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does the telephone reminiscence program improve social support, life satisfaction, and mental well-being and reduce loneliness in rural older adults and their caregivers? How does the telephone reminiscence impact how often and for what reason participants reminisce? * How often and how long do participants use the program? * How satisfied are older adults and informal caregivers with the program? In this study researchers will compare participants who begin the telephone reminiscence program right away with participants who start the program after a 12-week waiting period to see whether starting the program earlier leads to better outcomes. Participants will: * Take part in telephone calls 3 times a week that invite older adults to talk about their life experiences. * Answer brief survey questions about social support, loneliness, and mental well-being, and life satisfaction over time. * Include both older adults and their informal caregivers, who may also participate by recording questions in their own voice.

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 20, 2026
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2027
Completion
Jun 30, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
170 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: Immediate Telephone Reminiscence Program
    Participants assigned to this arm will begin the 12-week telephone-based reminiscence program immediately after baseline assessment. Older adults will receive automated telephone calls up to three times per week that invite them to respond to meaningful questions about their life experiences. Informal caregivers associated with participating older adults may also participate by recording personalized questions in their own voice. Participants will complete outcome assessments at baseline and at follow-up time points during and after the intervention period.
  • No Intervention: Wait-List Control (Delayed Telephone Reminiscence Program)
    Participants assigned to this arm will not receive the telephone-based reminiscence program during the initial 12-week period following baseline assessment. Participants in this wait-list control arm will complete the same outcome assessments as the immediate intervention group. After the 12-week waiting period, participants will begin the same 12-week telephone reminiscence program.

Primary Outcome Measure

Mental Well-Being [ Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticut06269
Juliette Shellman, PhD, RN
[email protected]
860-341-1177

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By research site
University of Connecticut· Storrs, CT

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