Digital Self-Compassion Writing Intervention to Support Mental Health of Parents of Autistic Individuals

University of Macau

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Mental Health

Treatments: Behavioral: Control group (placebo); Behavioral: Self-compassion writing group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07347717

MYRG-GRG2024-00269-FSS

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a digital self-compassion writing intervention for parents of autistic individuals. Participants will engage in a 14-day self-compassion writing program delivered via a WeChat mini-program. The study seeks to answer the following questions:

• Is the study design and digital self-compassion writing intervention feasible and acceptable for parents of autistic individuals?
• Does the intervention lead to greater improvements in self-compassion and mental health outcomes compared to the control group?
• Do baseline characteristics moderate the intervention effect compared to the control group?
• Among intervention participants, do satisfaction and usage patterns predict greater improvements in outcomes?
• Does improvement in self-compassion mediate changes in mental health outcomes?

Enrollment: 240 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• are parents of individuals with either a formal autism diagnosis or a provisional diagnosis from a medical institution
• are living with the autistic individual
• are aged 18 years or older
• regularly use WeChat
• are willing to commit to the study procedure

Exclusion criteria

• current experience of acute mental health issues (e.g., severe depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies)
• undergoing serious health crises (e.g., undergoing major surgery or diagnosed with a life-threatening illness)
• pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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240 participants in 2 patient groups

Self-compassion writing group

Experimental group

Description:

This digital intervention is a 14-day writing program delivered via a WeChat mini-program. Each day, participants complete a two-step writing task: (1) mindfully describe an event and their feelings, and (2) support themselves with self-kindness. Daily reminders are sent to encourage engagement. Each session takes approximately 5 minutes. The program is tailored for parents of autistic individuals to provide a brief, low-cost mental health support option for chronically stressed caregivers.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Self-compassion writing group

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the control group use the same mini-program for 14 days but complete factual writing tasks. They are instructed to recall their day and describe events objectively, without emotional content or cognitive reframing. This controls for time, attention, and writing activity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control group (placebo)