Improv Comedy to Reduce Anxiety in Young Chinese Adults in Hong Kong
Official title: An Improv Comedy Intervention to Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Mental Well-Being in Chinese Emerging Adults in Hong Kong: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by The University of Hong Kong · NCT07737821 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether weekly improv comedy workshops can lower anxiety and boost well-being in unmarried Chinese young adults in Hong Kong who have mild to moderate anxiety.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 29 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 31, 2026 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | September 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07737821 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Chinese-speaking, unmarried young adults in Hong Kong with mild to moderate anxiety who have no prior formal performance training and can attend most sessions.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with more severe depression, active suicidal ideation, or unstable chronic illness may not benefit and are excluded.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants are randomly assigned to either participate in a four-week, weekly three-hour improv comedy program or be placed on a waiting list. The study measures anxiety and mental well-being through four assessments during the intervention period, with optional one-on-one interviews. Eligible participants are ethnic Chinese adults in Hong Kong fluent in Chinese, with mild to moderate anxiety and no history of mental disorders, who can attend at least three of the four sessions. The intervention uses Improv Against Anxiety as the active approach and is led by The University of Hong Kong's Centre on Behavioral Health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience reduced anxiety symptoms and improved mental well-being through engaging, social, performance-based activities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in behavioral and creative therapies suggests potential anxiety reductions, but this exact improv-based approach in this population is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 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 Exclusion Criteria: * 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)
Where it's running
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Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Haorui Li
- Email: haorui_li@connect.hku.hk
- Phone: 852 5956 3975
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.