Digital Self-Compassion Writing Intervention to Support Mental Health of Parents of Autistic Individuals

Proportion of registrants who met all inclusion criteria (n_eligible / n_registered). This metric evaluates the effectiveness of the registration form in screening for eligibility.

Proportion of eligible registrants who completed the baseline assessment (n_baseline / n_eligible)

Proportion of baseline completers who complete the post-intervention questionnaire (n_post / n_baseline)

Proportion of post-intervention assessment completers who provided follow-up data (n_follow / n_post).

A 4-item measure assessing satisfaction with the intervention. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Total scores are obtained by averaging item scores. Higher scores indicate higher satisfaction with the intervention.

Measured by the average number of entries submitted during the intervention period.

Measured by the proportion of entries that meet the criteria for intervention and control groups, respectively. Evaluated after intervention completion by reviewing all entries submitted during the 14-day intervention period.

A 13-item measure (positive subscale of the Self-Compassion Scale) assessing self-compassion across three components: mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = almost never, 5 = almost always). Total and subscale scores are calculated by averaging item responses. Higher scores indicate greater self-compassion.

A six-item scale (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Short Form, ERQ-S) measuring two emotion regulation strategies: cognitive reappraisal and expression suppression. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale. Subscale scores are calculated by summing item scores within each strategy. Higher scores indicate more frequent use of that emotion regulation strategy.

A six-item scale (Psy-Flex) measuring psychological flexibility. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale. Total scores are calculated by summing item scores. Higher scores indicate higher levels of psychological flexibility.

5 items (WHO Well-Being Index, WHO-5). Total scores are calculated by summing item scores, ranging from 0 to 25. Higher scores indicate higher levels of well-being.

8 items (Flourishing Scale). Total scores are calculated by averaging item scores, ranging from 1 to 7. Higher scores indicate higher levels of flourishing.

A single-item measuring life satisfaction rated on a 0-10 reponse scale (0 = not at all, 10 = completely).

Stress will be measured by the single-item subjective level of stress (SLS-1). 0 = not at all, 5 = moderate, 10 = extremely.

7 items (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7). Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.

9 items (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9). Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression.

1 item (Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale). Possible ratings range from 0 to 10, with higher ratings indicating better sleep quality.

15 items (Simplified Parenting Stress Index/Short Form-15, S-PSI/SF). Total scores are calculated by summing item scores, ranging from 15 to 75. Higher scores indicate higher levels of parenting stress.

4 items (Me as a Parent Scale-Short Form). Total scores are calculated by summing item scores, ranging from 4 to 20. Higher scores indicate higher levels of parenting efficacy.

27 items (Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale) that reflect positive and negative parenting practices are used. Scores for positive parenting and negative parenting will be calculated by summing item scores, respectively.

24 items (Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale-Developmental Disability, CAPES-DD). To obtain a Behavioral Problems subscale score, sum ratings for items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12, with a possible range from 0 to 30. To obtain an Emotional Problems subscale score, sum ratings for items 2, 11, and 13 with a possible range from 0 to 9. Higher scores indicate greater levels of child emotional or behavioral problems. To obtain a Prosocial Behavior scale score, sum ratings for items 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24, with a possible range from 0 to 24.

A 3-item measure assessing self-compassion components (mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness) immediately after each writing session. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate greater self-compassion.

A single-item measure assessing positive emotions immediately after each writing session. This item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate greater positive emotions.

A single-item measure assessing life satisfaction immediately after each writing session. This item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate greater life satisfaction.

A single-item measure assessing parenting efficacy immediately after each writing session. This item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate greater parenting efficacy.

Will be measured by the Ten-Item Personality Inventory in Chinese. Scale scoring ("R" denotes reverse-scored items): Extraversion: 1, 6R; Agreeableness: 2R, 7; Conscientiousness: 3, 8R; Emotional Stability: 4R, 9; Openness to Experiences: 5, 10R.