Tomoko Kishimoto’s research while affiliated with Beijing Normal University and other places

With the aim of universal prevention, there is still a lack of non-clinician-led or self-help interventions designed for the general population experiencing psychological distress. This study aims to address this gap by exploring a convenient, single-session, and effective method for reducing anxiety using ChatGPT feedback. Using a mixed-factorial experimental design, we recruited 98 participants online to compare changes in self-compassion and anxiety before and after the intervention among three groups: self-compassion writing with ChatGPT feedback (Experimental Group 1), self-compassion writing alone (Experimental Group 2), and an Active Control Group. Results showed that both Experimental Group 1 and 2 experienced significant increases in self-compassion and Experimental Group 1 experienced significant decreases in anxiety after the intervention, with Experimental Group 1 showing greater improvements. There were no significant changes in the control group. This study demonstrates that single online self-compassion writing intervention can effectively reduce anxiety and that using ChatGPT to provide highly empathetic feedback can enhance the effectiveness, making psychological support more accessible, cost-effective, and suitable for the general population.

Introduction Parental stress among primary caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a significant concern. While previous research indicates that both family and child factors substantially influence parental stress, a few studies have comprehensively examined these factors from family, parent, and child perspectives. Moreover, the psychological mechanisms underlying parental stress remain underexplored. Method This study obtained a valid sample of 478 primary caregivers of children diagnosed with ASD in China and employed mediation and moderated mediation analyses to investigate the relationships between family adaptability and cohesion (FAC), ASD severity, parental self-efficacy, and parental stress. Result Results revealed that higher FAC was linked to reduced parental stress through increased parental self-efficacy. The indirect effect of parental self-efficacy was more substantial for caregivers of children with severe symptoms than those with mild symptoms. Discussion These findings offer insights into how FAC influences parental stress and underscore the importance of parental self-efficacy as a coping resource for mitigating parental stress. This study provides valuable theoretical and practical implications for understanding and addressing parental stress, particularly in families raising children with ASD.