RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06943105

Nonviolent Communication for Parents

Effectiveness of Group-based Nonviolent Communication Interventions for Improving Mental Well-being in Parents: a Randomised Controlled Trial

Sponsor

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Enrollment

172 participants

Start Date

May 1, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Anxiety Well-being Depression Symptom

Summary

This randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of face-to-face Nonviolent Communication (NVC) intervention in improving parents' mental well-being and NVC skills, reducing parenting stress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and child emotional and behavioural problems. A total of 172 parents with primary-school-age children will be recruited and randomly assigned to an intervention group or a waitlist control group. The intervention group will receive six weekly 1.5-hour face-to-face NVC training sessions delivered by trained social workers. Five to ten social workers will be trained by professional NVC trainers through a train-the-trainer workshop, including three sessions. Each social worker will be assessed before (TTT1), after (TTT2) the workshops and 10 months (TTT3). Assessments for participants will be conducted at baseline (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2), and at three-month follow-up (T3). After completing the assessments, the waitlist control group will receive the same sessions. Qualitative interviews will be conducted to explore participants' experiences and perceptions of NVC.

Eligibility

Min Age: 24 YearsMax Age: 59 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is testing whether Nonviolent Communication (NVC) training — a method of compassionate, assertive communication — can reduce anxiety and depression in parents of primary school-aged children in Hong Kong. **You may be eligible if...** - You are a parent aged 24–59 with at least one child of primary school age - You are experiencing mild to severe depression or anxiety symptoms (scoring above 5 on the PHQ-9 or GAD-7 questionnaires) - You are a Hong Kong resident who can understand Cantonese **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You are currently under psychiatric treatment and classified as an unstable case by the recruiting social worker - You are currently participating in another parenting program Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALNonviolent Communication Intervention

The intervention will be conducted by social workers who will be trained by professional NVC trainers through a train-the-trainer workshop, including six sessions. The interventions include an introduction to four fundamental principles of NVC, distinguishing observations from evaluations, identifying and expressing feelings, taking responsibility for feelings and needs, and using positive action language to make requests. Each session will feature a review of the previous session, a warm-up game and an exercise to consolidate the learning of the concepts. The intervention sessions will also include group discussions and debriefing sessions on parents' experiences of practising NVC.