The overall purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to examine the effect of arts classes (ballroom dance and ukulele) on older adults’ well-being compared with a social conversation control group. This article describes a novel participant-empowered pedagogical approach to enhance control group retention and engagement. Sixty-four participants (M = 71 years) participated twice weekly in a 10-week intervention that included ballroom dancing (n = 23), ukulele playing (n = 17), and social conversation (n = 24). Focus group themes revealed participants felt challenged as they crossed their comfort zones, increased confidence, and enhanced social connections. Community-engaged arts programs for older adults should further examine mechanisms that foster positive social connections during sessions, paying special attention to the design of the control group condition in RCTs where competing arts-based intervention groups may be more desirable to participants.

这项随机对照试验（RCT）的总体目的是，与社交对话对照组相比，研究艺术课（交谊舞和夏威夷四弦琴）对老年人幸福感的影响。本文介绍了一种新的参与者赋权的教学方法，以增强控制组的保留和参与度。六十四名参与者（M = 71岁）每周两次参加为期10周的干预，其中包括国标舞（n = 23），夏威夷四弦琴演奏（n = 17）和社交对话（n= 24）。焦点小组主题显示，参与者越过自己的舒适区，增强信心并增强社交关系时，就会感到挑战。社区参与的老年人艺术计划应进一步研究在会议期间建立积极社会联系的机制，特别注意RCT中对照组条件的设计，在这些条件下，参与者可能更希望参加基于艺术的竞争性干预小组。