Group-Based Positive Psychological Intervention in Bereaved Chinese Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial

Chinese parents who have lost their only child represent a population in need of psychological support because of their high risk of depressive symptoms, reduced resilience, and impaired mental well‑being. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a group‑based positive psychological intervention (PPI) in ameliorating these psychological issues and improving sleep quality. In this randomized controlled trial, bereaved Chinese parents were assigned to either a PPI group or a control group. The outcomes measured included symptoms of depression, resilience, mental well‑being, and sleep quality. The findings revealed that the PPI significantly improved mental well‑being (β = 0.79, 95% CI [0.15, 1.43], p = 0.016) and resilience (β = 2.88, 95% CI [0.23, 5.54], p = 0.032) and reduced depressive symptoms (β = ‑2.10, 95% CI [‑4.03, 0.18]; p = 0.033). However, there was no significant difference in sleep quality (β = ‑0.44, 95% CI [‑1.79, 0.90], p = 0.516) between the PPI group and the control group. This study underscores the potential of PPI for improving mental well‑being, building resilience, and reducing the level of symptoms of depression in this specific population. However, these findings also highlight the need for further research to address sleep quality issues more effectively among bereaved parents.