ParentsNCT05413577
Reducing Parental Stress Via Instant Messaging During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial
A study testing Mindfulness training in people with Parents and Parenting, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This research investigated the effects of mindfulness practice on mental wellbeing and parenting behaviour, with the instruction recordings delivered via existing instant messaging applications, including Whatsapp and Signal. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 491 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2021to 28 Feb 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Parents with at least one child who is in Primary School or below.
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This research investigated the effects of mindfulness practice on mental wellbeing and parenting behaviour, with the instruction recordings delivered via existing instant messaging applications, including Whatsapp and Signal. The two-week mindfulness program targeted parents with children in Nursery, Kindergarten to Primary School. Due to the suspension of schools, work from home policies, parents spend increased amount of time with their children. News reports have indicated that with the mounting care taking responsibilities and downturn of economy amidst the epidemic, parents have been experiencing higher stress that may negatively impact their wellbeing and parent-child relationship. This study delivered an app-based intervention that aims at enhancing mindful parenting at the time of corona, where social distancing is emphasized.
- Being tested
- Mindfulness training
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness trainingBehavioural
The intervention recordings taught the basic concepts of mindfulness through simple guided meditations with content supported by science. Each recording had the same format that included (1) a daily theme, (2) a meditation exercise echoing the theme, (3) a suggested exercise for practice, and (4) an invitation for participants to give a short response to their meditation experience at the end of the recording.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | The experimental group was invited to listen to a 15-minute mindfulness instructional recording delivered daily through an instant messaging application and to practice accordingly for 14 consecutive days at their own choice of time and place. Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness training |
| Waitlist control group | No intervention | The waitlist control group was only be required to complete the demographic information, pre, post experiment and follow-up questionnaires before they receive the mindfulness training intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Parental Stress Scale
The Parental Stress Scale was used to measure self-perceived stress specific to the parenting role. Parental Stress Scale was originally developed by Berry and Jones (1995) to measure parental feelings and experiences in terms of rewards, satisfaction, controllability, and stress. The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 64. A score of 0 represents lowest level of parental stress possible, whereas a score of 64 represents highest level of parental stress. Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
Measured: Change from Baseline Parental Stress Scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention
Secondary outcomes (3)
Well-being WHO 5-item index
Global mental well-being was measured using the Well-being WHO 5-item index (Topp et al., 2015).The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 25. A score of 0 represents worst possible, whereas a score of 25 represents best possible quality of life. Higher scores indicate better outcome.
Measured: Change from Baseline Well-being WHO 5-item index at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention
Mindfulness in Parenting Scale
The 31-item Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting scale was adopted to measure parents' self-reported engagement in mindful parenting (Duncan, 2007). The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 155. A score of 0 represents lowest level of parental mindfulness, whereas a score of 155 represents highest level of parental mindfulness possible. Higher scores indicate better outcome.
Measured: Change from Baseline Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention
Parent Behavior Inventory
The Parent Behavior Inventory was used to assess the change in parenting behavior before and after the intervention. The Parent Behavior Inventory has two independent scales, supportive/engaged and hostile/coercive parenting (Lovejoy et al., 1999), The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score for each scale was 50. A score of 0 represents lowest frequency of parenting behaviors on supportive/engaged and hostile/coercive parenting, whereas a score of 50 represents highest frequency of supportive/engaged and hostile/coercive parenting possible. Higher scores of supportive/engaged scale indicate better outcome. Lower scores of hostile/coercive scale indicate better outcome.
Measured: Change from Baseline Parent Behavior Inventory at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jun 2022
- Study start1 Sep 2021
- Primary completion28 Feb 2022
- Study completion28 Feb 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for ParentsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 491 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lam Lun Wai Doris, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Lun Wai Doris Lam, M.S.Sc, Principal investigator, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05413577
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SBRE-20-562
- Status last verified
- Nov 2022
- First submitted
- 4 Jun 2022
- Last updated
- 23 Nov 2022
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: No identifiable personal information was collected. Surveys were be anonymized to protect the privacy of research participants. All information obtained in the course of this experiment will be used for research purposes only; it will be protected and kept confidential by the researchers of this project and not be shared with a third party unless forced by law.
Publications
Lam DLW, Mak WWS, Yu BCL. A brief mindfulness- and compassion-based parenting programme delivered via instant messaging: Results and implications from two randomised controlled trials on reducing parental stress. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2025 Dec;17(6):e70094. doi: 10.1111/aphw.70094.
PubMed 41319012
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Nov 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Reducing Parental Stress Via Instant Messaging During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05413577
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SBRE-20-562
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 491 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 Feb 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Jun 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This research investigated the effects of mindfulness practice on mental wellbeing and parenting behaviour, with the instruction recordings delivered via existing instant messaging applications, including Whatsapp and Signal. The two-week mindfulness program targeted parents with children in Nursery, Kindergarten to Primary School. Due to the suspension of schools, work from home policies, parents spend increased amount of time with their children. News reports have indicated that with the mounting care taking responsibilities and downturn of economy amidst the epidemic, parents have been experiencing higher stress that may negatively impact their wellbeing and parent-child relationship. This study delivered an app-based intervention that aims at enhancing mindful parenting at the time of corona, where social distancing is emphasized.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Mindfulness trainingThe experimental group was invited to listen to a 15-minute mindfulness instructional recording delivered daily through an instant messaging application and to practice accordingly for 14 consecutive days at their own choice of time and place. |
| Waitlist control group | No intervention | –The waitlist control group was only be required to complete the demographic information, pre, post experiment and follow-up questionnaires before they receive the mindfulness training intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Parents with at least one child who is in Primary School or below.
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness trainingThe intervention recordings taught the basic concepts of mindfulness through simple guided meditations with content supported by science. Each recording had the same format that included (1) a daily theme, (2) a meditation exercise echoing the theme, (3) a suggested exercise for practice, and (4) an invitation for participants to give a short response to their meditation experience at the end of the recording. | Behavioural | Experimental Group |
Primary outcome
Parental Stress Scale
Time frame: Change from Baseline Parental Stress Scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention
The Parental Stress Scale was used to measure self-perceived stress specific to the parenting role. Parental Stress Scale was originally developed by Berry and Jones (1995) to measure parental feelings and experiences in terms of rewards, satisfaction, controllability, and stress. The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 64. A score of 0 represents lowest level of parental stress possible, whereas a score of 64 represents highest level of parental stress. Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
3 secondary outcomes
Well-being WHO 5-item index
Time frame: Change from Baseline Well-being WHO 5-item index at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention
Mindfulness in Parenting Scale
Time frame: Change from Baseline Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention
Parent Behavior Inventory
Time frame: Change from Baseline Parent Behavior Inventory at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Nov 2022.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41319012Lam DLW, Mak WWS, Yu BCL. A brief mindfulness- and compassion-based parenting programme delivered via instant messaging: Results and implications from two randomised controlled trials on reducing parental stress. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2025 Dec;17(6):e70094. doi: 10.1111/aphw.70094.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. No identifiable personal information was collected. Surveys were be anonymized to protect the privacy of research participants. All information obtained in the course of this experiment will be used for research purposes only; it will be protected and kept confidential by the researchers of this project and not be shared with a third party unless forced by law.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Lun Wai Doris Lam, M.S.Sc principal investigator
Chinese University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mindfulness training in people with Parents and Parenting, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Nov 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Parental Stress Scale (time frame: Change from Baseline Parental Stress Scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05413577, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Nov 2022.