Online Self-compassion Intervention on Paternal Perinatal Depression

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Postpartum Depression (PPD)

• Registration Number: NCT07077759
• Lead Sponsor: Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Brief Summary

To investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of an online mindfulness and self-compassion intervention for the mental health in fathers experiencing paternal perinatal depression (PPD).

Detailed Description

The pilot RCT will be assessed using an online survey and semi-structured individual interviews. Preliminary effectiveness measures include self-compassion, emotion regulation, resilience, and PPD measured at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up. Mixed-effects models will test changes between groups, while directed content analysis will be employed for qualitative data.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Study First Submitted: 2025-07-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-07-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-12
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-22
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-22
• Study Start: 2025-10-01
• Primary Completion: 2026-03-31
• Study Completion: 2026-10-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

1. aged 18 years or above; 2) the biological father who is expecting or the biological father of infants within 12 months old; 3) positive in depressive symptom screening with a PHQ-9 scored 9 or above; 4) sufficient comprehension of Cantonese; 5) currently live in Hong Kong; and 6) able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. currently experiencing psychosis; 2) having an intellectual disability; 3) experiencing current suicidal ideation; 4) participation in a similar study or received similar services in the past year.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Paternal perinatal depression	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 months.	(iv) Paternal perinatal depression will be measured using the Chinese version of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The scale is reliable in the Chinese population (Cronbach's α = 0.82).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Emotion regulation	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 months	Emotion regulation will be measured by the 10-item Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.82 and 0.77 for cognitive reappraisal and suppression, respectively.
Self-compassion	From enrollment to the end of intervention at 2 months	Self-compassion will be measured using the short version of the self-compassion scale (Raes et al., 2011). The scale has demonstrated good internal consistency in Chinese sexual minorities (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87)
Resilience	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 months.	Resilience will be measured by the six-item brief resilience scale (BRS).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hong Kong Metropolitan University; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong