Adolescents with emotional disorders (such as depression or anxiety) often experience distress that also affects their parents, creating a cycle of stress within the family. This study tests a new compassion-based family intervention designed to help both adolescents and their parents. The program includes six weekly sessions (120 minutes each). The study will recruit 60 parent-adolescent dyads. Half will receive the intervention immediately; the other half will wait 6 weeks before receiving it. We will measure changes in depression, anxiety, parenting stress, family relationships, and - using brain imaging (fNIRS) and heart rate monitors - how the intervention affects parent-child emotional and physiological synchrony. Assessments will take place before the intervention, right after, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. The goal is to see whether this family-focused compassion program can improve mental health for both adolescents and their parents.
Age range
12 Years – 18 Years
Sex
ALL
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Perceived emotional synchrony
Timeframe: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up
Self-Compassion
Timeframe: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up
Fears of Compassion
Timeframe: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up
Parenting Stress
Timeframe: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up
Children's depression levels
Timeframe: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up
Children's anxiety levels
Timeframe: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up
Parent-child neural synchrony (fNIRS hyperscanning)
Timeframe: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up
Heart rate variability (HRV)
Timeframe: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up