Healing Hearts App for Parental Stress
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This study examines online programs for parents navigating divorce or separation. Researchers will study whether a self-guided mindfulness app called Healing Hearts, followed by a self-guided online parenting program called the electronic New Beginnings Program, is feasible and acceptable to parents and shows promising effects on parent and child wellbeing. Ninety-six parents who live in the United States, have a child aged 6 to 18 with a former partner, and report mild to moderate psychological distress will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Healing Hearts followed by the parenting program, the parenting program alone, or a set of online educational resources. Participants complete online assessments before assignment, about seven weeks later, and about seven weeks after the second assessment. The study measures parent wellbeing, parenting, parent reports of child behavior, program use, and participant experiences. All participation takes place remotely.
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for parents in the U.S. who are divorced or separated, have a child aged 6 to 18 with their former partner, and are experiencing mild to moderate stress or emotional difficulties.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Curated internet resources
- electronic New Beginnings Program
- Healing Hearts
Trial Overview
The study compares three online approaches: a mindfulness app (Healing Hearts) followed by an online parenting program, the parenting program alone, or curated internet resources. Participants are randomly assigned to one group and complete everything remotely.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Participants receive the Healing Hearts program (HH) followed by the electronic New Beginnings Program (eNBP). The two interventions are received sequentially. HH is first offered after baseline randomization as a self-guided mindfulness app that contains four Parts, which contain five days of activities each (i.e., a total of 20 Days of activities). It has a recommended four-week completion period. Completing each Day's activities take about 20-30 minutes. Most activities are under 5 minutes, with other longer activities. Participants will receive the second assessment (T2) at week 7. Upon completion, they will then receive the electronic New Beginnings Program (eNBP). The eNBP is a self-guided online parenting course requiring participants to spend about 30 minutes per module for a total of six modules. It is designed to be completed in 6 weeks (one module per week). Participants will receive the third assessment (T3) at week 14.
Participants receive eNBP after baseline randomization. This is the only intervention they receive in this condition. The eNBP is a self-guided online parenting course requiring participants to spend about 30 minutes per module for a total of six modules. It is designed to be completed in 6 weeks (one module per week). Participants will receive the second assessment (T2) at week 7 and the third assessment (T3) at week 14.
Participants receive a curated list of online educational resources relevant to parenting and family wellbeing throughout the study period. They do not receive Healing Hearts or eNBP during the active comparison period. Assessments follow the same schedule as the other arms. Optional access after study assessments is outside the randomized intervention period.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Connecticut
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborator
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