Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41802236›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2026

GPT-Powered Chatbot-Based Positive Psychology Intervention for Well-Being Among Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Single-Arm Mixed Methods Study.

Wen Zhang, Rachel Yim Fong Leung, Ka Ki Mak, Haoyan Ge, Tyrone Tai On Kwok, Ricky Van Yip Tso, Anni Wang, Haixia Ma, Janet Yh Wong

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Study
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06438120 (Chatbot-based Positive Psychology Intervention to Promote Well-being in Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06438120 naactive not recruitingnot on this map

Chatbot-based Positive Psychology Intervention to Promote Well-being in Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Feasibility Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorHong Kong Metropolitan UniversityRan2024 to 2025Enrolled20ConditionsAutism Spectrum DisorderArmsChatbot-based positive psychology intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Wen ZhangSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).ORCID 0000-0002-8166-2879
Rachel Yim Fong LeungSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).ORCID 0009-0001-8276-9918
Ka Ki MakSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).ORCID 0009-0007-0909-0400
Haoyan GeSchool of Education and Languages, Hong Kong Metropolitan Univeristy, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).ORCID 0000-0002-3120-1468
Tyrone Tai On KwokSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).ORCID 0000-0002-9070-7354
Ricky Van Yip TsoFaculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).ORCID 0000-0001-8745-6913
Anni WangSchool of Nursing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3109-7514
Haixia MaSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).ORCID 0000-0003-2906-9936
Janet Yh WongSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).ORCID 0000-0002-3000-4577

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundParents of autistic children frequently experience elevated stress levels, depressive symptoms, and reduced well-being. Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) can strengthen resilience, and chatbots offer a scalable channel through which such skills can be delivered. However, evidence on the evaluation of large language model-guided PPI-based chatbots for this population is limited.

objectiveThis study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a GPT-powered chatbot ("Allie"). This study was designed to deliver culturally adapted PPIs to parents of autistic children and to explore their preliminary effects on well-being, depression, stress, and health-related quality of life.

methodsWe conducted a single-arm mixed-methods pilot study with 19 parents with autistic children. These parents engaged with Allie for 2 weeks to complete 8 structured PPI exercises. The primary outcomes were feasibility (completion, ease of use, and practicality) and acceptability (multidimensional user ratings). Secondary outcomes were the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Perceived Stress Scale-10, and Short Form-12 Health Survey (version 2) Physical and Mental Component Summary scores. Outcomes were analyzed using paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Optional postintervention interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

resultsA total of 17 (89.5%) participants completed all the exercises, which indicated a high degree of procedural feasibility. There were also high ratings for ease of use and practicality (means 4.47/5, SD 0.70, and 4.32/5, SD 0.67, respectively). Acceptability was favorable (overall satisfaction mean=5.68/7, SD 0.70; prompt response time=6.37/7, SD 0.68). The WHO-5 score improved significantly from 32.84 to 46.11 (t

conclusionsThis pilot study revealed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary improvement in well-being (WHO-5) of a PPI-based GPT-powered chatbot, Allie, among parents of autistic children. Although there was no significant short-term change in other outcomes, the findings provide insights into design priorities, including personalization, conversational naturalness, multimodal content, and autism spectrum disorder-specific guidance. Larger, controlled trials with longer exposures and more diverse samples are needed to establish efficacy and durability.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06438120; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06438120.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderParentsPsychology, PositiveAdultChildChild, PreschoolFeasibility StudiesFemaleGenerative Artificial IntelligenceHumansLarge Language ModelsMalePilot ProjectsPsychological Well-BeingQuality of LifeStress, PsychologicalASDautismautism spectrum disorderautistic childrenchatbotChatGPTdigital interventionparental well-beingpositive psychology

Identifiers

PMID41802236
PMCPMC13010079

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.