Mindful Parenting Research Articles

The mediating role of child's cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between parental mindfulness and child's mind reading ability.

The present research aimed at investigating the relationship between parental mindfulness and the child's mind reading ability based on his cognitive emotion regulation as playing a mediating role in the cultural context of Iran. The final participants included 278 primary school children and their parents from Kerman city in 2017. Mindfulness was measured by the interpersonal mindfulness in parenting scale, cognitive emotion regulation by cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire of kids, and mind reading by reading the mind in the eyes test for children. Based on the findings, the model was significant only for mothers and effects of awareness and present-centered attention and non-reactivity, as facets of parental mindfulness, on the child's mind reading ability were mediated partly and completely by the child's positive cognitive emotion regulation, respectively. The relationship pattern of variables was equal for boys and girls. Planning applied interventions based on the results of this study are recommended.

Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction occupational therapy program in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: An interventional study

Background: Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is highly demanding. Parents of children with ASD show increased parenting stress. This may lead to parental mental health problems, such as symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Stress can affect the parents functioning and also hinder the ASD child's progress. Jon Kabbat Zinn defines mindfulness as a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used and helps to increased coping and decreased reactivity to physical and emotional difficulties. Objectives: The current study aimed at finding the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction-occupational therapy (MBSR-OT) program on psychological functioning (stress, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, and psychological wellbeing) in parents of children with ASD. Study Design: A one-arm interventional study with subgroup analysis was conducted. Methods: Sixty parents of children diagnosed with ASD were included in the study. Parents diagnosed with schizophrenia, intellectual disability, dementia, or receiving treatment for any mental illness were excluded. All the parents were scored on the following outcome measures: Perceived Stress Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Ryff's Psychological Scale, and Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale. Data were analyzed using Windows-based R-Programming software. A paired t-test was used to analyze the data. Results: When results were analyzed, it was found that there was a significant improvement in the levels of stress (at baseline: mean ± standard deviation [SD] = 20.54 ± 4.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]:18.8–22.3; postintervention mean ± SD 10.96 ± 2.32, 95% CI: 10.1–11.8, P = 0.00), mindfulness (at baseline: Mean ± SD = 4.37 ± 0.90, 95% CI: 4.05–4.69; postintervention: Mean ± SD = 5.27 ± 0.70, 95% CI: 5.02–5.52, P = 0.00) psychological wellbeing (at baseline: Mean ± SD = 170.46 ± 25.54, 95% CI: 161–180; postintervention: Mean ± SD = 190.77 ± 24.53, P = 0.05, 95% CI: 182–200), anxiety (at baseline: Mean ± SD = 14.15 ± 5.72, 95% CI: 12.1–16.2; postintervention: Mean ± SD = 190.77 ± 24.53,95% CI: 182–200, P = 0.00) and depression (at baseline: Mean ± SD = 7.77 ± 3.90, 95% CI: 6.37–9.17; postintervention: Mean ± SD = 3.35 ± 2.94, 95% CI: 2.3–4.4, P = 0.00). Conclusion: MBSR-OT program can help reduce stress, anxiety, and improve the psychological wellbeing of parents having children with ASD.

Effect of Mindful Parenting Program in Reducing Psychological Burden on Mother with Cerebral Palsy Children

Caring children with cerebral palsy might rise the potential of having physical, emotional, and psychological burdens for the mother. Mindfulness-based interventions can help to decrease psychological distress, sleep disturbances, and physical fatigue by improving the growth of quality of life and spirituality. The purpose of this study is to discover the effect of a mindful parenting program in reducing the psychological burden of the mother’s children with cerebral palsy. This research uses the one-group pre-test post-test design using a double pre-test. Measurement of psychological burden using psychological burden scale. The participants are 6 mothers of the cerebral palsy children who followed 8 sessions mindful parenting program. Hypothesis testing using the Wilcoxon-signed-rank test along with qualitative data analysis using observation and self-report. The results showed that mindful parenting program significantly decreased psychological burden on mothers with cerebral palsy children with z = -2.201 (p = 0,028; p <0,05). The effect of a mindful parenting program on psychological burden reduction was 63% (r = -0.63).

Applying positive language in mindful parenting: A means of building positive character in children

Positive language is a crucial communication tool, both within the family environment and in external circumstances. Previous research endeavors have evidenced that the inculcation of positive language by parents is effective in building positive character in their children. Thus, language is not merely a communication tool; it is also a means of personality development. However, this application cannot be realized if parents are unaware. Therefore, the community service activity proposed in this paper aims to broaden and strengthen mindful parenting, and to enhance the discernment of positive language in parents to help them build positive character in their children. To this end, a community-based research process was applied through activities held in a community center to mentor and assist 30 young Muslim couples whom were married for a period of 5 to 20 years. An expert psychologist was engaged to help the participating couples comprehend two perspectives of mindful parenting: language education and psychology. A mini handbook for the application of positive language was distributed to each participating couple as guidance to enable them to continuously employ mindful parenting with their children. This community service activity expanded and reinforced the commitment of all participants to work together to inculcate their children with positive personalities. Parents must be mindful of every single word they say and everything they do if they desire to build a better future generation. The more parents apply positive language in mindful parenting, the more children will be assimilated with constructive personalities.

Mindful parenting inhibits adolescents from being greedy: The mediating role of adolescent core self-evaluations

Greed, which is detrimental, is suggested to be a disposition developed at an early stage of life. Since parenting practices have profound impacts on youth development, the current study aimed to explore whether mindful parenting could prevent adolescents from being greedy and examine the mediating role of adolescent core self-evaluations. Study 1 (N = 272) used self-reported data from adolescents to test the hypotheses. Study 2 (N = 525) provided further evidence with multisource data from both adolescents and their primary caregivers (mainly mothers). The results indicated that both mindful parenting perceived by adolescents and mindful parenting reported by primary caregivers had significant impacts on adolescent dispositional greed, and the mediating effect of adolescent core self-evaluations was significant. Mindful parenting could inhibit adolescent greed partially by contributing positively to children’s core self-evaluations. The theoretical and practical implications of the current study results as well as future research directions are discussed.

Cultural influence on mindful eating: traditions and values as experienced by Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white parents of elementary-school children.

To examine perceptions of mindful eating and mindful food parenting among parents of elementary school children. Four focus groups were conducted with 19 Mexican-American parents and 13 non-Hispanic white parents of children from a northern California elementary school. Themes emerging from this research included food traditions during mealtime, perceptions of mindful eating, mindful food parenting and portion control, mindful food parenting practices through gardening, and mindful food parenting with traditional foods. Mexican-American participants identified cooking traditional foods as an important part of their mindful eating and food parenting practices. Mexican-American participants also highlighted the importance of using their senses to appreciate food. Both Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white participants emphasized the importance of involving children in gardening and meal preparation. Mexican-American parents had different perceptions of food portion control than the non-Hispanic white participants. The current study indicates the importance of mindfulness in broad food-related practices such as gardening, cooking and preserving food traditions in mindful eating practices. More research is needed to further understand how culture shapes and impacts these food practices among different cultural groups.

Unfolding Relations among Mindful Parenting, Recurrent Conflict, and Adolescents' Externalizing and Internalizing Problems.

The current study examined unfolding relations among mothers' mindful parenting, parent-adolescent recurrent conflict, and adolescents' externalizing and internalizing problems. In a community sample of 117 families (31% black, Asian, American Indian, or Latino), parents and adolescents (52% female; average age=12.13years) were followed over 15months. Parents answered questions about mindful parenting and recurrent conflict, and adolescents reported on their own externalizing and internalizing problems. Path analyses indicated that higher levels of mindful parenting were significantly related to lower levels of recurrent conflict 2-3months later, controlling for previous levels of recurrent conflict. Moreover, lower levels of recurrent conflict were significantly related to lower levels of externalizing problems and internalizing problems 1year later, controlling for previous levels of those problems. Subgroup analyses indicated that relations were comparable across subgroups defined by adolescent gender, race, parent marital status, and family financial strain. The effects of mindful parenting were robust even after accounting for other indicators of positive and supportive parenting, namely inductive reasoning and warmth in the parent-adolescent relationship. These findings highlight the potential of mindful parenting to improve family interactions and adolescent adjustment.

Mindful Parenting is Associated with Adolescents' Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Through Adolescents' Psychological Inflexibility and Self-Compassion.

The acquisition and mastery of emotion regulation is one of the most important developmental tasks of adolescence. Difficulties in regulating emotions are one of the most robust risk factors for the development of difficulties and psychopathology. This study investigates whether a mindful parenting style is associated with adolescent's difficulties in emotion regulation and whether adolescents' self-compassion and psychological inflexibility mediate this association. This study also explores gender and age differences in study variables and the moderating role of adolescents' gender and stage of adolescence in the mediation model. A total of 375 mother-adolescent dyads participated in the study. The adolescents had a mean age of 14.19 years (SD = 1.67; range = 12-19 years) and 59.5% were girls. The mindful parenting dimensions of compassion for the child and nonjudgmental acceptance of parental functioning were indirectly associated with difficulties in emotion regulation through self-compassion, whereas the mindful parenting dimension of listening with full attention was indirectly associated with difficulties in emotion regulation through psychological inflexibility. Some associations were only significant for girls. These findings suggest that mindful parenting is a possible vehicle to foster adaptive emotion regulation in adolescents by facilitating their self-compassion and psychological flexibility.

Mindful Parenting and Parenting Practices in Chinese Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ObjectivesParenting children with autism spectrum disorder may be different from parenting typically developing children. The current study systematically compared mindful parenting and parenting practices in families of children with autism spectrum disorder and in families of typically developing children in China.Methods167 biological parents (Mage = 37.87) of Chinese children with autism spectrum disorder and 167 biological parents (Mage = 38.04) of typical developing children completed questionnaires regarding mindful parenting and parenting practices. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to compare between the two types of families with parent/child gender effects on mindful parenting and parenting practices. Then a series of path analyses were also conducted to examine the associations between mindful parenting and parenting practices in the two types of families.ResultsCompared to parents of typically developing children, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder showed less listening with full attention, less proactive parenting, less supportiveness, more lax control, and more physical control to their children; in families of children with autism spectrum disorder (but not in families of typically developing children), fathers showed less proactive parenting and supportiveness to their children than mothers. We also found that parents’ listening with full attention and awareness of children’s emotions were significantly related to both positive and negative parenting practices in families of children with autism spectrum disorder.ConclusionsChinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and parents of typically developing children display different parenting behaviors. These findings can provide us more future directions in studying parenting behaviors in Chinese families of children with autism spectrum disorder.

The Food-Related Parenting Context: Associations with Parent Mindfulness and Children’s Temperament

There were two objectives of this study. The first was to determine whether parents’ dispositional mindfulness was associated with food-related parenting, including more support and structure and less coercion and chaos. The second was to consider children’s temperament and food-related parenting, with a focus on reactivity and regulation. Parents’ beliefs and concerns about body and child weight and demographic factors were also considered. Caregivers of children aged 4–8 years (N = 167, 94% female) completed measures of food-related parenting, dispositional mindfulness, children’s temperament (surgency, negative affectivity, and effortful control), parents’ concern about child’s weight, and parents’ body dissatisfaction. Parents also reported their children’s age, gender, family income, and education. As hypothesized, parents higher in mindfulness reported more food-related supportiveness and structure and less food-related coerciveness and chaos; most associations were significant even after accounting for children’s temperament and all other measures. For temperament, children’s effortful control was associated with higher levels of parent supportiveness and structure, whereas negative affectivity was positively associated with coerciveness and chaos. Although parents’ body dissatisfaction and concerns about their children’s weight were usually correlated with food-related parenting, few associations remained significant in the multivariate models. Children’s surgency and demographic factors were not associated with food-related parenting. Parents’ mindfulness and children’s negative affectivity and effortful control, which we argued reflect reactivity and regulation, were uniquely associated with parents’ food-related supportiveness, structure, coerciveness, or chaos. Future research should examine bidirectional pathways to better isolate the direction of effects and pinpoint potential intervention targets.

“Eat, pray, love. Ritalin”: A qualitative investigation into the perceived barriers and enablers to parents of children with ADHD undertaking a mindful parenting intervention

Background and purposeThere is growing interest in how mindful parenting interventions (MPI) may support families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to explore the potential barriers and enablers to parents’ participation in a MPI from the perspectives of parents of children with ADHD and healthcare providers. Materials and methodsThirteen parents of children with ADHD attended focus groups, and seven healthcare providers participated in semi-structured phone interviews. Transcripts of the focus groups and interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. ResultsThree overarching themes related to potential barriers and enablers were identified: parent motivation and capacity to engage in a MPI, the need for multimodal and personalised delivery, and considerations for real-world program implementation. ConclusionParents of children with ADHD appear to require flexible, multimodal MPIs that consider parents’ emotional experiences, priorities, and personal struggles.

Translation and Validation of a Chinese Version of the Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ).

Objective:To translate the Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ) into Standard Mandarin and then explore the reliability and validity of this newly translated measure in a large sample of Chinese middle school parents.Methods:We translated the MIPQ using the forward-backward method and pilot tested it on a sample of parents of adolescents (aged 12–16 years) in China. Following minor modifications, 1057 Chinese parents (Mothers or Fathers) in two middle schools (one in the North and one in the South of China) completed the translated Chinese Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (C-MIPQ). To determine test-retest reliability 121 participants completed the C-MIPQ again 2 weeks later. In order to test convergent validity, 395 participants completed the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire-Short Version (PSDQ-short) and the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale (IM-P). The Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), Beck Depression Scale (BDI-13), and socioeconomic status (SES) were completed in order to test discriminant validity.Results:Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-factor model indicated in the original study was a good fit. The total score of the scale and the scores of the two dimensions (‘Mindful discipline’ and ‘Being in the moment with the child’) were significantly positively correlated with the total score of the MAAS, IM-P and the authoritative parenting style in the PSDQ-short, demonstrating convergent validity. Discriminant validity was established as there was no difference in C-MIPQ sub-scale scores across any of the SES variables except for levels of education (parents with higher education had higher scores on the ‘being in the moment with the child’ subscale). In addition, the C-MIPQ was negatively related to stress and depression. Cronbach’s alpha of the total scale was 0.93 (and 0.88, 0.89 for the two dimensions of the C-MIPQ) indicating excellent internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was good (intra-class correlation of 0.83).Conclusion:This study is the first step toward establishing the psychometric properties of the C-MIPQ for measuring mindful parenting in parents of adolescents aged 12–16 years; additional studies will be needed in order to test this further.

Role of Mindful Parenting, Affiliate Stigma, and Parents’ Well-being in the Behavioral Adjustment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Testing Parenting Stress as a Mediator

The present study aimed to elucidate the mediating vs. moderating role of parenting stress between parents’ characteristics, including parents’ disposition to mindful parenting, affiliate stigma, and mental well-being, and the behavioral adjustment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 136 Chinese parents of children with ASD under 18 years of age participated in this cross-sectional study. Mediation findings showed that parenting stress mediated the relation between parents’ characteristics (i.e., parents’ disposition to mindful parenting and affiliated stigma) and behavioral difficulties in children with ASD. While parents’ mental well-being did not explain the variability of parenting stress, parenting stress undermined mental well-being. Parents’ mental well-being was also related to children’s prosocial behaviors. However, their mental well-being did not mediate between parenting stress and children’s prosocial behaviors. Competing test of parenting stress as a moderator did not yield significant findings. These findings inform applied intervention efforts to promote parents’ mindful parenting and mental well-being as resources that generate multiple outcomes in children with ASD. Relatedly, the present research suggests the importance of combating stigma in reducing parents’ stress and children’s behavioral difficulties.

The Role of Compassion and Mindfulness in Building Parental Resilience When Caring for Children With Chronic Conditions: A Conceptual Model.

Compassion- and mindfulness-based interventions (CMBIs) and therapies hold promise to support parent resilience by enabling adaptive stress appraisal and coping, mindful parenting, and perhaps crucially, self-compassion. These contemplative modalities have recently been expanded to parents of children with chronic illness, building on successful applications for adults facing stress, chronic pain, or mental illness, and for healthcare professionals in response to caregiver burnout resulting from their work. The design and adaptation of interventions and therapies require a conceptual model of parent resilience in the context of childhood chronic illness that integrates mindfulness and compassion. The objective of this paper is to propose and describe such a model. First, we review the need for parent support interventions for this population. Second, we introduce a Model of Compassion, Mindfulness, and Resilience in Parental Caregiving. We highlight the mindful parenting approaches, guiding theories for adaptive coping, and family resilience frameworks that informed our model. Third, we describe a case of a parent to illustrate a practical application model. Finally, we outline future directions for intervention development and research to examine the impact of CMBIs on parent resilience.

A Randomized Control Trial Evaluating an Online Mindful Parenting Training for Mothers With Elevated Parental Stress.

ObjectivesThe prevalence of maternal stress in early years of parenting can negatively impact child development. Therefore, there is a need for an early intervention that is easily accessible and low in costs. The current study examined the effectiveness of an 8-session online mindful parenting training for mothers with elevated levels of parental stress.MethodsA total of 76 mothers were randomized into an intervention (n = 43) or a waitlist control group (n = 33). The intervention group completed pretest assessment prior to the online intervention. Participants completed a post intervention assessment after the 10 weeks intervention and a follow-up assessment 10 weeks later. The waitlist group completed waitlist assessment, followed by a 10-week waitlist period. After these 10 weeks, a pretest assessment took place, after which the waitlist group participants also started the intervention, followed by the posttest assessment. Participating mothers completed questionnaires on parental stress (parent-child interaction problems, parenting problems, parental role restriction) and other maternal (over-reactive parenting discipline, self-compassion, symptoms of depression and anxiety) and child outcomes (aggressive behavior and emotional reactivity) while the non-participating parents (father or another mother) were asked to also report on child outcomes.ResultsThe online mindful parenting intervention was shown to be significantly more effective at a 95% level than a waitlist period with regard to over-reactive parenting discipline and symptoms of depression and anxiety (small and medium effect sizes), and significantly more effective at a 90% level with regard to self-compassion, and mother-rated child aggressive behavior and child emotional reactivity (small effect sizes). The primary outcome, parental stress, was found to have a 95% significant within-group effect only for the subscale parental role restriction (delayed small effect size improvement at follow-up). No significant improvements on child outcomes were found for the non-participating parent.ConclusionTo conclude, the results provide first evidence that an online mindful parenting training may be an easily accessible and valuable intervention for mothers with elevated levels of parental stress.

A Dynamic Systems Approach to Understanding Mindfulness in Interpersonal Relationships

Major components of mindfulness, such as the development of empathy and compassion and the sharing of experience between people, necessitate a consideration of interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on interpersonal mindfulness to-date and present a new way to conceptualize and measure mindfulness as it is cultivated and developed in interpersonal relationships. We reviewed empirical literature on mindfulness in relationships and current conceptualizations and measures of mindfulness. Specifically, we focused attention on mindfulness in parenting and how cultivation of mindfulness impacts the parent–child interactions. Empirical investigations of mindfulness have largely centered on the intrapersonal and have rarely involved both intra- and interpersonal components of human experience. Further, although mindfulness is thought to involve the moment-to-moment awareness of human experience as it unfolds over time, empirical studies rarely measure mindfulness as a dynamic construct. We suggest that dynamic systems theory can provide a useful framework in understanding how mindfulness both organizes and is organized by interpersonal interactions. We discuss several ways in which dynamic systems theory can inform the conceptualization of mindfulness as a process that takes place both within and between individuals. Finally, we present examples of how fine-grained and time-varying methods rooted in dynamic systems theory and currently utilized in human development research can be applied to understanding how mindfulness is manifested within close interpersonal relationships.

The extended nervous system: affect regulation, somatic and social change processes associated with mindful parenting

BackgroundA theoretical model of mindful parenting has the potential to succinctly summarise its various change processes. The primary aim of this study was to investigate some of the change processes associated with mindful parenting, namely, the affect regulation, somatic and social change processes. A secondary aim was to verify whether clinical insights are consistent with the change processes identified in a systematic review of mindful parenting.MethodInterpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse semi-structured interviews with four Australian clinicians delivering Mindful Parenting (MP) programs. The clinicians had extensive personal meditation practice. This qualitative study is part of a mixed methods study, which commenced with a quantitative systematic review.ResultsSix higher-order themes identified as change processes included reflective functioning, attachment, cognitive, affective, somatic and social change processes.ConclusionThe anchor is a new theoretical model summarising the change processes associated with mindful parenting. The mother portrayed as the extended nervous system for the infant is a neologism that also has not been previously mentioned in the literature. Given the limitations with the small sample and potential bias with interpretation, the anchor is a starting point to developing a theoretical model of mindful parenting. Future research with larger sample sizes and objective measures is needed to confirm whether the anchor is a reasonable summary of the change processes.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese Metaparenting Profile Questionnaire Short-form

Research on deliberate and mindful parenting constructs, including metaparenting, has become increasingly popular. However, this topic has not been widely examined in China and Hong Kong. To provide a psychometrically-sound instrument for such research endeavor in the region, this study adopted the Metaparenting Profile Questionnaire Short-form (MPPQ-S) by Holden (2008) and examined the psychometric properties of its Chinese version including its factor structure, internal reliability and concurrent validity. Participants were 293 Chinese mothers in Hong Kong with a focal child in elementary school. They were invited to complete a set of questionnaires measuring their metaparenting thoughts, parental sense of competence and satisfaction, and parenting practices. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the proposed five-factor structure of the Chinese MPPQ-S had an acceptable fit. The questionnaire also demonstrated adequate internal reliability, and was associated with parental competence and satisfaction as well as self-reported parenting practices which supported its concurrent validity. The overall results suggest that the Chinese MPPQ-S is a satisfactory measure of metaparenting thoughts in the Chinese context.

WS14-5 Evaluating a mindful parenting course for parents of children with cystic fibrosis

WS14-5 Evaluating a mindful parenting course for parents of children with cystic fibrosis

Correction to: Parental Mindfulness and Preschool Children’s Emotion Regulation: the Role of Mindful Parenting and Secure Parent-Child Attachment

Correction to: Parental Mindfulness and Preschool Children’s Emotion Regulation: the Role of Mindful Parenting and Secure Parent-Child Attachment