Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Delivered Via Instant Messaging on Parents' Wellbeing: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Investigation of Moderators

NCT05413538 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: SBRE(R)-21-039
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research investigates the effects of mindfulness practice on mental wellbeing with the instruction recordings delivered via existing instant messaging applications, Whatsapp. The two-week mindfulness program targets parents with children in Secondary School or below. This research also explores how parenting and attachment styles moderate the intervention effects.

Conditions

Parents; Stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• 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.

  Change from Baseline Parental Stress Scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention

• Interpersonal 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.

  Change from Baseline Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention

• Non-attachment to Self Scale

  Non-attachment to Self Scale measures the absence of fixation on self-related concepts, thoughts and feelings, and a capacity to flexibly interact with these concepts, thoughts and feelings without trying to control them (Whitehead et al., 2018). The minimum score was 0 and the maximum was 49. The higher the score the more nonattached the participant. Higher scores indicate better outcome.

  Change from Baseline Non-attachment to Self Scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention

• Nonattachment Scale - Short Form

  Nonattachment Scale measures an individual's release from mental fixations in a flexible, balanced way of relating to one's experiences without clinging to or suppressing them (Chio, Lai, \& Mak, 2018). The minimum score was 0 and the maximum was 48. The higher the score the more nonattached the participant. Higher scores indicate better outcome.

  Change from Baseline Nonattachment Scale - Short Form at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention

• Peace of mind

  Peace of mind scale measures an individual's internal state of peacefulness and harmony (Lee et al., 2013).The minimum score was 0 and the maximum score was 35. Higher scores reflect higher levels of peace of mind. Higher scores indicate better outcome.

  Change from Baseline Peace of mind Scale - Short Form at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-Short Form

  Change from Baseline The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale - Short Form at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention

• Training Scale

  Change from Baseline Training Scale at immediately after the intervention and two weeks after intervention

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The experimental group will be 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.

Behavioral: Mindfulness training

Waitlist control group

NO INTERVENTION

The waitlist control group will only be required to complete the demographic information, pre, post experiment and follow-up questionnaires before they receive the mindfulness training intervention.

Interventions

Mindfulness training BEHAVIORAL

The intervention recordings will teach the basic concepts of mindfulness through simple guided meditations with content supported by science. Each recording has 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.

Experimental Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Parents with at least one child who is in Secondary School or below

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Shatin, Hong Kong

Location

Central Study Contacts

Lun Wai Doris Lam

CONTACT

(852)67706313; 1007627212@link.cuhk.edu.hk

Winnie Wing-Sze Mak, Phd

CONTACT

(852)3943-6577

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator, Graduate Student in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 4, 2022
• First Posted: June 10, 2022
• Study Start: July 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: September 28, 2022
• Study Completion: September 28, 2022
• Last Updated: June 15, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)