Chatbot-based Positive Psychology Intervention in Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT ID: NCT06438120

Last Updated: 2025-06-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-11-04
• Study Completion Date: 2025-07-31

Brief Summary

This project aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of chatbot-based positive psychology intervention.

Detailed Description

According to a World Health Organization report, one in 100 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is characterized by varying degrees of disability and deviation in social communication and interaction. Half of the parents of children with ASD have reported showing depression and high levels of anxiety. Lower well-being and poor quality-of-life have also been reported. Thus, there is an urgent need to find applicable interventions to reduce depressive symptoms and promote mental health in caregivers of children with ASD.

Positive psychology intervention uses positive psychological skills, such as savoring, gratitude, forgiveness, optimism, personal strength, and attainable goals, to identify meaning and value in life events and to promote positive emotions, cognitions and behaviors. Considering the convenience, low cost and popularity of chatbot, chatbot-based positive psychology intervention will be applied in this study. A pilot feasibility study will be proposed to evaluate the feasibility of chatbot-based positive psychology intervention.

The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of chatbot-based positive psychology intervention in promoting well-being in caregivers of children with ASD (Primary).

The secondary objectives are:

To test if the intervention reduces perceived stress in caregivers of children with ASD; To test if the intervention reduces depressive symptoms of caregivers of children with ASD; To test if the intervention improves quality of life in caregivers of children with ASD.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Chatbot group

In this group, participants will receive chatbot-based positive psychology intervention.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Chatbot-based positive psychology intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eight positive psychology exercises will be delivered, including positive introduction, personal strengths, using strengths, three good things, gratitude, hope and optimism, active/constructive responding, and savoring.

Interventions

Chatbot-based positive psychology intervention

Eight positive psychology exercises will be delivered, including positive introduction, personal strengths, using strengths, three good things, gratitude, hope and optimism, active/constructive responding, and savoring.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Primary caregivers

• (i) providing long-term care for the primary-school-age child (6-11 years old) diagnosed with ASD;
• (ii) who are over 18 years old;
• (iii) who have the ability to communicate and read in Chinese;
• (iv) who have at least one mobile phone with an internet connection.

Exclusion Criteria

Primary caregivers

• (i) who participate in a similar psychological intervention within one year;
• (ii) currently on regular psychotropic medications.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Dr Wendy Zhang Wen

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Countries

Hong Kong

Other Identifiers

RD/2023/1.20

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id