Mindful lifestyle social prescribing for older adults’ mood and connection
Official title: Social Prescribing for a Mindful Lifestyle
Run by Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital · NCT07669805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A group program about 8 weeks of mindfulness plus healthy lifestyle activities is tested to see if it helps reduce depressive symptoms and loneliness and improve quality of life in adults aged 55 and over.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 55 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hualien City, Taiwan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 9, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | October 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07669805 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 55+ with moderate depressive symptoms and/or higher loneliness scores who can participate in weekly 3-hour sessions and provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with severe medical, cognitive, or mental health conditions or those unable to participate in group sessions may not experience 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
This trial tests an 8-week mindfulness lifestyle program delivered in group sessions for community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older. The curriculum blends mindfulness practices with healthful lifestyle guidance, including breathing, body awareness, stretching, diet education, and art activities, guided by a multidisciplinary team. Participants complete assessments before starting and after finishing to measure changes in depressive symptoms, loneliness risk, and quality of life. The study uses a pre-post design without a control group to determine whether the program produces meaningful improvements. Conducted at Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Hualien City, Taiwan, it aims to inform social prescribing approaches for older adults with mood and social health concerns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience reduced depressive symptoms and loneliness and improved quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research on mindfulness and lifestyle interventions suggests potential for mood and social health benefits in older adults, but this exact social prescribing model is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * People aged 55 years or older. * People with a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) score of 7-10 or a UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 score of 35-64. * People can understand the research process, meet the requirements of the research, and can sign the informed consent and participate in the project. Exclusion Criteria: * People that are unable to cooperate with the project or follow-up. * According to the PI's judgment, people with severe or poorly controlled conditions include ongoing acute diseases, severe infections, severe abnormal laboratory tests, or serious medical conditions with the following systems: cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, nervous, mental, metabolic, renal, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, etc. * People with severe depression, risk of self-harm, severe cognitive impairment (dementia), visual or hearing impairment, and disabilities that prevent the completion of the project and assessment. * People are currently or expected to join any other physical training courses or nutrition intervention plans during the project period. * Others are based on the judgment of the PI that participating in this project may adversely affect the safety of the subjects, hinder the progress of the experiment, or interfere with the evaluation of the outcomes of the project.
Where it's running
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Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital
Hualien City, Taiwan, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sheng-Lun Kao, MD. PhD. — Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sheng-Lun Kao, MD. PhD.
- Email: stevenkao7434@gmail.com
- Phone: +886-3-8561825
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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.