Stronger Families Through Art Therapy to strengthen parent-child relationships
Official title: Stronger Families Through Art Therapy: A Mixed Methods Programme Evaluation Study
Run by Nanyang Technological University · NCT06732297 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a 10-week parent-child art therapy programme to see if it improves quality of life and family resilience for vulnerable, low-income families with children aged 7–14 in Singapore.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 7 Years to 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 96 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Nanyang Technological University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Singapore) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 22, 2025 |
| Main results expected | July 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | February 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06732297 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Caregivers (parents, grandparents, other family or foster caregivers) who can consent in English and one or more of their children aged 7–14 who speak English, from low-income families receiving CHAS Blue, ComCare, or MOE financial assistance, and facing caregiver stress or children's difficulties with emotional regulation.
✕Probably not a fit
Families with children outside the 7–14 age range, caregivers or children who cannot communicate in English, families not meeting the specified low-income assistance criteria, or those with severe psychiatric conditions requiring specialized clinical care may not benefit from this programme.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Stronger Families Through Art Therapy (SFAT) delivers a 10-week programme combining workshops, dyadic art therapy sessions, and an art-based self-care tool to strengthen family communication and emotional bonding. The quantitative component uses a single-site, open-label waitlist randomized controlled design comparing families who receive SFAT immediately with those on a waitlist. An embedded qualitative component collects focus group feedback from participating families, session evaluation forms from art therapists, and discussions with community staff to assess acceptability and feasibility. Outcomes measured include caregiver and child quality of life, family resilience, and feasibility metrics for wider implementation in Singapore.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the programme could improve parent-child communication, emotional regulation, and overall family resilience, leading to better quality of life for caregivers and children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small-scale and community-based dyadic art therapy programmes have reported promising improvements in parent-child communication and child emotional regulation, but rigorous randomized evidence remains limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria (family participant): * the caregiver (including parents, grandparents, family members or foster parents who perform the main caretaking responsibilities of the children taking part in SFAT) of a young child who can communicate in English and provide informed consent * the child is aged 7-14 years and can communicate in English * the family have one or more of the following identified challenges: (1) caregiver stress such as finances, household management, work and childcare arrangements, (2) caregiver struggles to find time for self-care and quality time with children, (3) caregiver has minimal understanding of the psychological and emotional needs of their children, (4) children face difficulties with emotional regulation and anger management * caregivers and children are from low-income families who receive financial assistance under the CHAS Blue card, ComCare financial assistance, and/or the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme Inclusion criteria (art therapist participant) registered art therapist based in the Red Pencil (Singapore) who are in charge of delivering the SFAT programme Inclusion criteria (community staff participant) \- community staff who provides assistance to the implementation of the SFAT programme Exclusion Criteria: * individuals who are suffering from depression or other major mental health conditions that would render their participation highly disruptive to others in a group setting, and/or cannot provide informed consent. Families will also be excluded if they are currently unstable (i.e. circumstances related to abuse/neglect), and/or have high risk of suicidal and self-harm behaviours. In the cases that individuals referred to the programme are not eligible, the partner organisations will assess their needs and refer them to programmes based on these needs. * participant is unable to provide informed consent
Where it's running
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The Red Pencil Singapore
Singapore, Singapore Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Andy Hau Yan Ho, PhD, EdD
- Email: andyhyho@ntu.edu.sg
- Phone: +65 6316 8943
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.