A Chatbot-based Program to Promote Well-being in Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by varying degrees of disability and deviation in social communication, cognitive growth, and emotional expression, as well as the existence of constrained, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests and sensory processing issues. Caring for children with ASD can be a stressful and challenging life event for parents, potentially leading to a higher risk of mental health issues and other negative outcomes.

Poor mental health in these parents can be attributed to various factors, such as the perception of having little control over their child's behavior, concerns about the child's intellectual development and ability to acquire adaptive behaviors, the demands of caregiving and time management, worries about parent-child relationships, and uncertainty about the child's future.

The mental well-being of parents of children with ASD is essential in both clinical and research settings, as it can impact potential treatment results. Research has demonstrated that stress experienced by these parents can be linked to reduced participation in services and less favorable behavioral and developmental outcomes for their children in early intervention programs. The success of interventions mediated or delivered by parents is closely tied to their mental well-being, which affects both their involvement in treatments and adherence to them. Therefore, it is vital to focus on enhancing the mental health of parents when designing intervention children with ASD and their families.

Emerging evidence supports the use of Positive Psychotherapy (PPT). PPT was originally proposed by Seligman and colleagues and consists a series of evidenced-based positive psychological skills exercises aimed at fostering positive emotions, cognition, characteristics, and behaviors. PPT focuses on individuals' strengths and resources, distinguishing it from traditional psychotherapies. PPT is brief, requiring only a few sessions, Its instructions are straightforward and easy-to-follow, allowing for self-adminstration. Research has shown that PPT not only reduces depressive symptoms, stress and anxiety, but also places equal emphasis on enhancing well-being in individuals with major depression. Taken together, the investigators hypothesize that PPT can improve well-being, reduce stress, depressive symptoms, and enhance the quality of life in Chinese parents of children with ASD.

Digital health interventions, particularly Chatbots, have the potential to expand the reach and impact of positive psychology skills interventions for parents of children with ASD. There are several advantages to using Chatbots. First, Chatbots are perceived as accessible and can provide a structured set of content that simulates real-life conversations with a supportive friend. This is particularly important for parents of children with ASD who may lack social support. Second, access to the effective psychological interventions can be limited due to geographical barriers, lack of resources, or social stigma. Digital interventions, such as Chatbots, can help overcome these barriers by providing easy access to evidence-based psychological interventions. Chatbots can be available 24/7, can be personalized to individual needs, and can offer immediate feedback and support. Third, Chatbots can collect data on users' interactions, which can inform the improvement and adaptation of the intervention. The use of Chatbots to promote health conversations is an emerging field. A review of 12 studies suggested that no adverse events or harms were reported but there was a lack of studies assessing mental health outcomes. Hence, in this proposed study, the investigators will develop and test the first Chatbot to improve well-being in caregivers of children with ASD.

Aims： The objective is to evaluate and test the Chatbot-based program in promoting well-being in caregivers of children with ASD.

The secondary objectives are:

To test if the Chatbot-based program reduces perceived stress in caregivers of children with ASD; To test if the Chatbot-based program reduces depressive symptoms in caregivers of children with ASD; To test if the Chatbot-based program improves quality of life in caregivers of children with ASD; To test if the Chatbot-based program is feasible of children with ASD.

Methods: The randomised controlled trial with a mixed-method evaluation will be designed. A total of 130 caregivers of children with ASD will be randomly allocated into the control or intervention group. Participants will be randomly allocated to the Chatbot-based program and receive one-page information about ASD.