90SecondParent Wellbeing: Weekly Health Letters for Parents of Children With Developmental Disabilities

Parents of children with developmental disabilities (DD) consistently report significant psychological distress, a vulnerability amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic due to intensified caregiving demands and reduced access to formal supports. Scalable e-health interventions offer a promising alternative, yet programs specifically targeting the mental wellbeing of this parent population remain limited. This study aimed to examine the impact of the 90SecondParent Wellbeing e-health intervention on psychological wellbeing, parental wellbeing, and symptoms of depression and anxiety among parents of children with developmental disabilities. A two-arm randomized controlled trial of primary caregivers of children with developmental disabilities was conducted with a wait-list control group. The intervention consisted of 36 weekly health letters (the 90SecondParent Wellbeing program) that addressed child behaviour management, support strategies, and positive psychology principles. Outcomes, including psychological wellbeing (PWBS), parental wellbeing (PWS), depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7), were assessed across three time points ( baseline, immediately after intervention, and 1 month post-intervention (follow-up)).

Inclusion Criteria: * Parent or caregiver of a child with a developmental disability. * At least 18 years of age * Spent a minimum of 20 hours per week, for at least the past 3 months, to care for their child with developmental disabilities * Living in Canada * Able to read, write, and understand English. * Provided informed consent. * Access to a tablet, smart phone, computer, or internet Exclusion Criteria: * Not a parent or caregiver of a child with a developmental disability. * Spent less than 20 hours per week for less than 3 months caring for a child with developmental disabilities * Didn't live in Canada * Not able to read, write, and understand English. * No access to a tablet, smart phone, computer, or internet. * Did not consent to the study