AI-Based Reflective Parenting Simulation for Parents of Autistic Children

July 7, 2026 updated by: University of Haifa

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating an AI-Based Reflective Parenting Simulation for Parents of Autistic Children

This randomized controlled trial evaluates an AI-based parental simulation designed to support reflective parenting, emotional regulation, and parent-child communication among parents of autistic children aged 3 to 12 years. A total of 140 parents will be recruited through an external online survey platform and randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will complete baseline questionnaires, engage with the AI-based simulation, and then complete post-intervention measures. The control group will complete baseline and post-assessment measures before receiving access to the simulation.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The study examines the use of an AI-based parental simulation as a learning and reflective tool for parents of autistic children aged 3 to 12 years. The simulation is designed to allow parents to practice responses to emotionally challenging parent-child situations, with an emphasis on reflective functioning, emotional regulation, playfulness, and supportive parent-child communication.

Participants will be recruited through an external online survey platform and will provide informed consent before participation. After completing baseline questionnaires, participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group will complete the AI-based simulation and then complete post-intervention measures. Participants in the control group will complete post-assessment measures before receiving access to the simulation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

140

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Parent or primary caregiver of an autistic child aged 3 to 12 years.
  • Child has a parent-reported diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  • Parent is 18 years of age or older.
  • Parent is able to read and complete questionnaires in Hebrew.
  • Parent has access to an internet-connected device and is able to complete the online study procedures.
  • Parent provides informed consent to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Parent does not provide informed consent.
  • Parent is not the parent or primary caregiver of an autistic child aged 3 to 12 years.
  • Parent is unable to complete the online questionnaires or the AI-based reflective parenting simulation.
  • Duplicate, incomplete, or low-quality responses that do not meet study quality criteria.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Screening
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group
Participants in this group will complete the baseline questionnaire battery, including a study-specific 8-item evaluation questionnaire assessing four targeted domains: knowledge and understanding, parent-child communication skills, shared emotional regulation, and relational security. They will then engage with the AI-based therapeutic parental simulation and complete the same evaluation questionnaire again, followed by user experience and human-machine interaction questionnaires.
Behavioral: AI-Based Reflective Parenting Simulation
An AI-based reflective parenting simulation designed for parents of autistic children aged 3 to 12 years. The simulation allows parents to practice reflective, emotionally regulated, and supportive responses to challenging parent-child situations, with an emphasis on parent-child communication, shared emotional regulation, and the parent-child relationship as a secure anchor.
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants in this group will complete the baseline questionnaire battery, including a study-specific 8-item evaluation questionnaire assessing four targeted domains: knowledge and understanding, parent-child communication skills, shared emotional regulation, and relational security. They will then complete the same evaluation questionnaire again before receiving access to the AI-based therapeutic parental simulation. After using the simulation, they will complete user experience and human-machine interaction questionnaires.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Study-Specific Parent Reflective Capacity Questionnaire Score
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention or control assessment point
The study-specific Parent Reflective Capacity Questionnaire includes 8 items rated on a 1 to 5 scale. The questionnaire assesses parents' perceived capacity in four targeted domains: knowledge and understanding, parent-child communication skills, shared emotional regulation, and the parent-child relationship as a secure anchor. A total mean score will be calculated across the 8 items, with higher scores indicating higher perceived parental reflective capacity in the targeted domains.
Baseline and immediately after the intervention or control assessment point

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Haifa

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 30, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 7, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UH-129-26-ASD-AI

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Subscribe