Family ConflictNCT07826702
Nonviolent Communication Plus Personalised E-message for Parents
A study testing Healthy Lifestyle Tips and Nonviolent Communication Intervention & Personalised E-messages in people with Family Conflict and Relationship, Parent Child, run by Hong Kong Metropolitan University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of combining a brief Nonviolent Communication (NVC) intervention with follow-up personalised AI-generated messages delivered daily via WhatsApp to improve child-parent relationships, parenting… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 32 to 59 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Family Conflict, Relationship, Parent Child
- What is being tested?
- Healthy Lifestyle Tips and Nonviolent Communication Intervention & Personalised E-messages
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- Oct 2026to 30 Sep 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 32 to 59 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 1) parents aged 32-59 years with children attending middle school (approximately 12-17 years old) in Hong Kong;
- 2) scoring 3 or above in any item of the 3-item conflict subscale of the Network of Relationship Inventory (Furman \& Buhrmester, 2009);
- 3) able to read Chinese and use a smartphone to receive WhatsApp messages;
- 4) willingness to attend a two-session NVC intervention in group format.
Who cannot join
- 1) severe mental health problems requiring immediate specialist care or inability to provide informed consent.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site
The Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Hong Kong
Yuying Sun, PhD, 852 39702916, gsun@hkmu.edu.hk
About this study
Official title: A Rolling Two-session Nonviolent Communication Intervention Plus Personalised E-message in Improving Child-parent Relationship: a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of combining a brief Nonviolent Communication (NVC) intervention with follow-up personalised AI-generated messages delivered daily via WhatsApp to improve child-parent relationships, parenting competence and family communication.
A total of 60 parents of middle school students experiencing difficulties in family communication or recurrent conflict with their children will be recruited in Hong Kong and randomly assigned (in a 1:1 allocation ratio) to an intervention group or an attention control group.
Read more
The intervention group will participate in two 2-hour NVC workshops, scheduled two weeks apart and delivered by the principal investigator, plus four weeks of personalised AI-generated NVC e-messages daily. The attention control group will receive weekly e-messages with healthy lifestyle tips for 6 weeks.
Assessments for participants will be conducted at baseline (T0), post-workshop (T1, after the second session/two weeks after T0), and 12 weeks after baseline (T2). A process evaluation featuring quantitative ratings and open-ended questions will be conducted to explore participants' perceived benefits and subjective experiences.
- Conditions
- Family Conflict, Relationship, Parent Child
- Being tested
- Healthy Lifestyle Tips, Nonviolent Communication Intervention & Personalised E-messages
- Keywords
- Nonviolent Communication, Text Messaging, Randomized Controlled Trial, Relationship, Parent Child
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Healthy Lifestyle TipsBehavioural
The attention control group will receive an information pamphlet that encourages them to maintain a healthy diet, engage in regular physical activity, and practice weight control. Participants will receive weekly WhatsApp messages about healthy lifestyle tips for 6 weeks.
Nonviolent Communication Intervention & Personalised E-messagesBehavioural
The intervention includes an introduction to NVC's four principles, the difference between observations and judgments, identifying and expressing feelings, taking responsibility for feelings and needs, and using positive action language when making requests.
The intervention workshops will be offered in rolling monthly cycles for approximately three rounds over three months (two rounds will be online, and one will be face-to-face). Participants who miss the second session may attend an equivalent session in the second or third cycle. Between and following the sessions, participants will receive AI-generated, tailored messages via WhatsApp daily for four weeks that provide concise NVC tips and guide parents through NVC-style conversations with their adolescents.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| NVC Intervention Group | Experimental | Participants in the intervention group will receive two 2-hour NVC intervention workshops, scheduled two weeks apart and delivered in small groups (either online or face-to-face) by the PI, plus four weeks of daily personalised AI-generated NVC messages via WhatsApp. Receives: Behavioral: Nonviolent Communication Intervention & Personalised E-messages |
| Attention Control Group | Active comparator | Participants in the attention control group will not receive any NVC intervention workshops during the study. They will receive regular healthy lifestyle information messages via WhatsApp for 6 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Healthy Lifestyle Tips |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Recruitment rate
Recruitment rate is defined as the proportion of eligible or contacted candidates who actually agree to join the study (Number Enrolled / Number Eligible or Approached).
Measured: Baseline (T0)
Retention rate
Retention rate is defined as the percentage of randomised participants retained and assessed with valid primary outcome data.
Measured: 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after baseline)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Child-Parent Relationship
The Child-Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS-SF) is a 15-item scale for evaluating two dimensions of the relationship between parents and children: conflict and closeness. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"). Scores for closeness and conflict are calculated separately, with higher closeness scores indicating a stronger emotional bond and a supportive relationship between parents and children (Driscoll \& Pianta, 2011). Higher conflict scores indicate greater conflict between parents and children. The internal consistency reliabilities were adequate in a Chinese sample (Cronbach's alpha = 0.78 to 0.81) (Tan et al., 2023).
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-workshop assessment (T1, 2 weeks after T0), and 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after T0).
Parenting Competence
The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) (Ngai et al., 2007) is a 17-item scale to measure parents' perceived competence in the parenting role. Each item is rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater competence in parenting. Cronbach's alpha was 0.93 in a Chinese sample.
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-workshop assessment (T1, 2 weeks after T0), and 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after T0).
Family function
The Family Communication Scale (FCS) is a 10-item scale used to measure family communication (Guo et al., 2021). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"). A higher total score (range 10-50) indicates a higher level of positive family communication. The Chinese version of FCS showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91) and was stable over 1 month (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.69).
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-workshop assessment (T1, 2 weeks after T0), and 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after T0).
Anxiety
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 scale is a 7-item instrument to assess anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks (Spitzer et al., 2006; Tong et al., 2016). Each item is scored from 0 to 3. The seven item scores are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptom severity.
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-workshop assessment (T1, 2 weeks after T0), and 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after T0).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Sep 2026
- Study startOct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Family ConflictStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr Grace SUN Yuying, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- Investigators
- Yuying Sun, PhD, Principal investigator, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07826702
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RD/2026/1.24
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: We are not sharing individual participant data (IPD) due to privacy concerns and limitations in participant consent. Although the data is de-identified, there remains a risk of re-identification, and participants were not explicitly consented for public data sharing. Aggregate results will be made available through publications and presentations to ensure transparency.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Rolling Two-session Nonviolent Communication Intervention Plus Personalised E-message in Improving Child-parent Relationship: a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07826702
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RD/2026/1.24
- Conditions
- Family Conflict, Relationship, Parent Child
- Keywords
- Nonviolent Communication, Text Messaging, Randomized Controlled Trial, Relationship, Parent Child
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of combining a brief Nonviolent Communication (NVC) intervention with follow-up personalised AI-generated messages delivered daily via WhatsApp to improve child-parent relationships, parenting competence and family communication.
A total of 60 parents of middle school students experiencing difficulties in family communication or recurrent conflict with their children will be recruited in Hong Kong and randomly assigned (in a 1:1 allocation ratio) to an intervention group or an attention control group.
The intervention group will participate in two 2-hour NVC workshops, scheduled two weeks apart and delivered by the principal investigator, plus four weeks of personalised AI-generated NVC e-messages daily. The attention control group will receive weekly e-messages with healthy lifestyle tips for 6 weeks.
Assessments for participants will be conducted at baseline (T0), post-workshop (T1, after the second session/two weeks after T0), and 12 weeks after baseline (T2). A process evaluation featuring quantitative ratings and open-ended questions will be conducted to explore participants' perceived benefits and subjective experiences.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| NVC Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Nonviolent Communication Intervention & Personalised E-messagesParticipants in the intervention group will receive two 2-hour NVC intervention workshops, scheduled two weeks apart and delivered in small groups (either online or face-to-face) by the PI, plus four weeks of daily personalised AI-generated NVC messages via WhatsApp. |
| Attention Control Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Healthy Lifestyle TipsParticipants in the attention control group will not receive any NVC intervention workshops during the study. They will receive regular healthy lifestyle information messages via WhatsApp for 6 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 32 to 59 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 1) parents aged 32-59 years with children attending middle school (approximately 12-17 years old) in Hong Kong;
- 2) scoring 3 or above in any item of the 3-item conflict subscale of the Network of Relationship Inventory (Furman \& Buhrmester, 2009);
- 3) able to read Chinese and use a smartphone to receive WhatsApp messages;
- 4) willingness to attend a two-session NVC intervention in group format.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 1) severe mental health problems requiring immediate specialist care or inability to provide informed consent.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Lifestyle TipsThe attention control group will receive an information pamphlet that encourages them to maintain a healthy diet, engage in regular physical activity, and practice weight control. Participants will receive weekly WhatsApp messages about healthy lifestyle tips for 6 weeks. | Behavioural | Attention Control Group |
| Nonviolent Communication Intervention & Personalised E-messagesThe intervention includes an introduction to NVC's four principles, the difference between observations and judgments, identifying and expressing feelings, taking responsibility for feelings and needs, and using positive action language when making requests. The intervention workshops will be offered in rolling monthly cycles for approximately three rounds over three months (two rounds will be online, and one will be face-to-face). Participants who miss the second session may attend an equivalent session in the second or third cycle. Between and following the sessions, participants will receive AI-generated, tailored messages via WhatsApp daily for four weeks that provide concise NVC tips and guide parents through NVC-style conversations with their adolescents. | Behavioural | NVC Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Recruitment rate
Time frame: Baseline (T0)
Recruitment rate is defined as the proportion of eligible or contacted candidates who actually agree to join the study (Number Enrolled / Number Eligible or Approached).
Retention rate
Time frame: 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after baseline)
Retention rate is defined as the percentage of randomised participants retained and assessed with valid primary outcome data.
4 secondary outcomes
Child-Parent Relationship
Time frame: Baseline (T0), Post-workshop assessment (T1, 2 weeks after T0), and 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after T0).
Parenting Competence
Time frame: Baseline (T0), Post-workshop assessment (T1, 2 weeks after T0), and 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after T0).
Family function
Time frame: Baseline (T0), Post-workshop assessment (T1, 2 weeks after T0), and 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after T0).
Anxiety
Time frame: Baseline (T0), Post-workshop assessment (T1, 2 weeks after T0), and 12-week assessment (T2, around 3 months after T0).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. We are not sharing individual participant data (IPD) due to privacy concerns and limitations in participant consent. Although the data is de-identified, there remains a risk of re-identification, and participants were not explicitly consented for public data sharing. Aggregate results will be made available through publications and presentations to ensure transparency.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Yuying Sun, PhD principal investigator
Hong Kong Metropolitan University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Healthy Lifestyle Tips and Nonviolent Communication Intervention & Personalised E-messages in people with Family Conflict and Relationship, Parent Child, run by Hong Kong Metropolitan University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Yuying Sun, PhD (852 39702916, gsun@hkmu.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Recruitment rate (time frame: Baseline (T0)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Sep 2026.