An interventional study of Telephone Reminiscence Program in Mental Health, sponsored by University of Connecticut. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 60 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-17.
Sponsored by University of Connecticut · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
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Among 654 studies in Psychological Well-Being with a site in United States — 188 open to participants now, 239 under way, 1 of them phase 3. Psychological Well-Being · United States.
Among the 654 studies in Psychological Well-Being with a site in United States, this one is the 215th largest by planned enrollment of the 572 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 84 that started in 2026, is one of 514 with no phase, reaches primary completion later than 141 of the 237 other live ones, and was the 611th registered.
2,195 studies on the registry are indexed under Psychological Well-Being; 728 are open to participants now.
Browse Psychological Well-Being studies →188 of the 654 studies in Psychological Well-Being with a site in United States are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:
Columbia University · Sites in United States
Ages 12–80
Chestnut Health Systems · Sites in United States
Ages 18+ · Healthy volunteers
University of Massachusetts, Worcester · Sites in United States
Ages 18+
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · Sites in United States
Ages 18–40 · Healthy volunteers
University of South Carolina · Sites in United States
Ages 18+ · Women only
A study can be open while its sites in United States have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in United States →
Of the 401 Psychological Well-Being studies recruiting now, 218 (54%) set no upper age limit and 157 (39%) stop at 75 or younger; 120 take children under 18; 204 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 60 Years and older · all sexes · healthy volunteers too.
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654 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
A study in two phases is counted once above. Listed by phase, each with its combined phases: Phase 1 20 · Phase 2 29 · Phase 3 10 · Phase 4 6
First in 1996; this study’s year is marked. 84 started in 2026.
By drug class, each counting the studies that test any of its medicines:
This study's planned enrollment of 170 is above the median of 110 across 1,798 interventional studies indexed under Psychological Well-Being.
Median enrollment 116 across the 572 interventional studies, 500 across the 81 observational. Of the 383 that completed or were terminated, 120 (31%) have results posted.
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53 of 654 have an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
University of Connecticut is the lead sponsor of 135 studies on the registry; 19 are open to participants now.
University of Connecticut has 3 studies filed under Psychological Well-Being — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
99 of the studies in Psychological Well-Being with a site in United States that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT07011459Tulane UniversityThe Cooking for Health Optimization and Disease Prevention (CHOP) Trial | 2026-11 |
| NCT07718646Oklahoma State UniversityMobile Health Coping Intervention for Mothers Experiencing Food Insecurity | 2026-11 |
| NCT06915259University of PennsylvaniaDoula Model of Care | 2026-11 |
| NCT04833829Emory UniversityCross-disciplinary HIV Integrated Mental Health Support Intervention | 2026-11 |
| NCT06989593Sarah SchlegelBreaking Silence Through Story: A Narrative Medicine Intervention for Parents of Children With Urogenital Conditions | 2026-11 |
Add all 99 to your calendar (.ics) → With an account.
Among the 654 studies in Psychological Well-Being with a site in United States, from their registry updates:
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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:
Participants will:
This study evaluates a telephone based reminiscence program designed to reduce social isolation and improve mental health among older adults living in rural areas, while also engaging informal caregivers who support them. The study consists of two sequential parts: an initial development and refinement phase, followed by a randomized wait list controlled clinical trial.
Study Overview and Rationale Older adults living in rural areas experience high levels of social isolation and limited access to supportive services due to geographic distance, transportation barriers, and reduced availability of technology based resources. Many older adults in rural communities rely on landline telephones and do not have consistent access to broadband internet, creating barriers to participation in digital health interventions. Telephone based programs that do not require internet access may offer a low burden, scalable approach to supporting mental well being and social connection in these populations.
Reminiscence based interventions encourage individuals to reflect on meaningful life experiences and share personal stories. Prior research suggests that reminiscence can support emotional well being, reinforce identity, and promote a sense of connection. This study builds on previous work evaluating a telephone reminiscence program and extends it by improving accessibility for rural users and formally testing its effectiveness over a longer intervention period.
Part 1: Program Refinement and Feasibility Assessment The first part of the study focuses on refining and enhancing the telephone reminiscence program to improve accessibility, usability, and acceptability for rural older adults and informal caregivers. A total of 16 older adult-caregiver dyads will participate in short term (four week) use of the enhanced program and provide feedback through structured discussions and surveys.
Data collected in this phase inform refinements to the program's functionality, including ease of interaction using landline telephones, clarity of prompts, and caregiver involvement features (such as the ability for caregivers to record questions in their own voice). Findings from Part 1 are used to finalize the version of the program evaluated in the clinical trial phase.
Part 2: Randomized Wait List Controlled Clinical Trial The second part of the study is a randomized, parallel group, wait list controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the effects of the telephone reminiscence program on social and mental health outcomes in a larger sample of rural older adults and their informal caregivers. A total of 170 older adult-informal caregiver dyads will be enrolled in this phase of the study.
After completion of baseline assessments, eligible participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Intervention Description The telephone reminiscence program consists of automated phone calls delivered up to three times per week over a 12 week period. During each call, older adult participants are invited to respond to simple, meaningful questions about their life experiences and memories. Participants may choose how much or how little they wish to share during each call, and calls can be ended at any time.
Informal caregivers associated with participating older adults may also take part by recording personalized questions or prompts in their own voice, enabling a sense of connection and engagement between calls. The intervention does not require internet access, smartphones, or computer use.
Study Outcomes and Assessments Outcome assessments are conducted at baseline and at follow up time points aligned with the intervention and wait list periods. Primary outcomes focus on changes in social support, loneliness, and mental well being among older adults. Secondary outcomes include adherence to the program, frequency and duration of use, and changes in reminiscence patterns. Satisfaction with the program is assessed for both older adults and informal caregivers.
Sample Size and Statistical Considerations The sample size of 170 dyads in the randomized trial phase is based on power calculations informed by prior studies of the telephone reminiscence program and is sufficient to detect moderate differences in primary social and mental health outcomes between the immediate intervention and wait list groups. Statistical analyses will compare changes in outcomes between groups during the first 12 weeks, with additional analyses examining within participant changes over time and associations between program engagement and outcomes.
Ethical Considerations This study is considered minimal risk. All participants eventually receive access to the intervention, and participation is voluntary. The wait list design allows evaluation of intervention effects while ensuring equitable access to the program.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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.
Behavioral: 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.
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.
Mental Well-Being
The Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF) will be used to assess mental health and well-being. The 14 item scale measures emotional, social, and psychological dimensions of mental health. Participants answer each item on a 6-point scale, ranging from 0 and 5, resulting in a total score between 0 to 70. The emotional well-being subscale has a range from 0 to 15, the social well-being subscale scores range from 0 to 25, and the psychological well-being subscale scores range from 0 to 30. Higher scores on MHC- SF indicate a higher level of mental well-being. The MHC-SF has demonstrated excellent internal consistency (\>.80) and discriminant validity in adults in the United States, and its test-retest reliability has also been demonstrated, with an average of 0.68 over three consecutive three-month periods and 0.65 over a 9-month period.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks
Social Support
Social support will be measured using 11-item Duke Social Support Index (DSSI), designed to provide a quick and reliable assessment of social support among older adults. This scale evaluates social support across two domains, including social interactions and subjective support. The total score of the scale ranges from 11 to 33. A higher score indicates more social support. The 11-item DSSI demonstrates strong reliability and validity. The scale's internal consistency is reflected in a Cronbach's alpha of 0.77 for elderly populations and its Test-retest reliability scores range from 0.70 to 0.81.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks
Loneliness
Loneliness will be measured UCLA 3 Item Loneliness Scale is a brief 3-item scale that measures three dimensions of loneliness: relational connectedness, social connectedness, and self. Responses are provided on a 3-point (response scale ranging from "hardly" to "often", with total scores ranging from 3 to 9. The instrument has favorable psychometric properties, including high internal consistency (ranging from 0.89 to 0.94) and a good test-retest reliability over one year (r = 0.73).
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks
Life satisfaction
Life satisfaction will be measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale, which assesses overall cognitive judgments of one's life satisfaction. Higher scores indicate greater life satisfaction.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, 24 weeks
Program Adherence
Program adherence will be assessed by the proportion of scheduled telephone calls completed by participants during the intervention period.
Time frame: During the 12-week intervention period
Frequency and Duration of Program Use
Frequency and duration of use will be assessed by the number of telephone reminiscence calls completed per week and the duration of each call during the intervention period.
Time frame: During the 12-week intervention period
Reminiscence Functions
Reminiscence Functions will be assessed using the Modified Reminiscence Functions Scale (MRFS), a 29-item questionnaire that measures how often people use different types of reminiscence. The scale captures multiple reminiscence functions, including self-regard, death preparation, bitterness revival, conversation, intimacy maintenance, teaching and informing, and boredom reduction. Participants rate how often they engage in each type of reminiscence on a 5-point scale ranging from never to very often. Higher scores indicate more frequent use of a specific reminiscence function. The MRFS has demonstrated good reliability, with strong internal consistency across subscales.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, 24 weeks
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Aug 2027, 11 months later.
Of 1,261 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Psychological Well-Being, half reached primary completion within 17 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 7 and three quarters within 34. This study's planned 11 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 1,304 studies reached it within 16 months; a quarter within 7 and three quarters within 34.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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