Autism Spectrum Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Parents of Autistic Children, Reflective Parenting, Parental Self-Efficacy, Emotion Regulation, Parent-Child Communication, AI-Based Simulation
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluates an AI-based parental simulation designed to support reflective parenting, emotional regulation, and parent-child communication among parents of autistic children aged 3 to 12 years. A total of 140 parents will be recruited through an external online survey platform and randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will complete baseline questionnaires, engage with the AI-based simulation, and then complete post-intervention measures. The control group will complete baseline and post-assessment measures before receiving access to the simulation.
Detailed description
The study examines the use of an AI-based parental simulation as a learning and reflective tool for parents of autistic children aged 3 to 12 years. The simulation is designed to allow parents to practice responses to emotionally challenging parent-child situations, with an emphasis on reflective functioning, emotional regulation, playfulness, and supportive parent-child communication. Participants will be recruited through an external online survey platform and will provide informed consent before participation. After completing baseline questionnaires, participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group will complete the AI-based simulation and then complete post-intervention measures. Participants in the control group will complete post-assessment measures before receiving access to the simulation.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALAI-Based Reflective Parenting Simulation
An AI-based reflective parenting simulation designed for parents of autistic children aged 3 to 12 years. The simulation allows parents to practice reflective, emotionally regulated, and supportive responses to challenging parent-child situations, with an emphasis on parent-child communication, shared emotional regulation, and the parent-child relationship as a secure anchor.
Sponsors
University of Haifa
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Masking description
No masking will be used. Participants and researchers will not know the group assignment before randomization; however, after assignment, participants will be aware of whether they complete the AI-based simulation before or after the post-assessment measures.
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will complete baseline questionnaires, engage with the AI-based therapeutic parental simulation, and then complete post-intervention measures. The control group will complete baseline and post-assessment measures before receiving access to the simulation.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* \- Parent or primary caregiver of an autistic child aged 3 to 12 years. * Child has a parent-reported diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. * Parent is 18 years of age or older. * Parent is able to read and complete questionnaires in Hebrew. * Parent has access to an internet-connected device and is able to complete the online study procedures. * Parent provides informed consent to participate.
Exclusion criteria
* \- Parent does not provide informed consent. * Parent is not the parent or primary caregiver of an autistic child aged 3 to 12 years. * Parent is unable to complete the online questionnaires or the AI-based reflective parenting simulation. * Duplicate, incomplete, or low-quality responses that do not meet study quality criteria.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Study-Specific Parent Reflective Capacity Questionnaire Score | Baseline and immediately after the intervention or control assessment point | The study-specific Parent Reflective Capacity Questionnaire includes 8 items rated on a 1 to 5 scale. The questionnaire assesses parents' perceived capacity in four targeted domains: knowledge and understanding, parent-child communication skills, shared emotional regulation, and the parent-child relationship as a secure anchor. A total mean score will be calculated across the 8 items, with higher scores indicating higher perceived parental reflective capacity in the targeted domains. |
Contacts
CONTACTYael Enav, PhD
Outcome results
None listed