Self-report Measures Of Stress Research Articles

Noncanonical EEG-BOLD coupling by default and in schizophrenia.

Neuroimaging methods rely on models of neurovascular coupling that assume hemodynamic responses evolve seconds after changes in neural activity. However, emerging evidence reveals noncanonical BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) responses that are delayed under stress and aberrant in neuropsychiatric conditions. To investigate BOLD coupling to resting-state fluctuations in neural activity, we simultaneously recorded EEG and fMRI in people with schizophrenia and psychiatrically unaffected participants. We focus on alpha band power to examine voxelwise, time-lagged BOLD correlations. Principally, we find diversity in the temporal profile of alpha-BOLD coupling within regions of the default mode network (DMN). This includes early coupling (0-2 seconds BOLD lag) for more posterior regions, thalamus and brainstem. Anterior regions of the DMN show coupling at canonical lags (4-6 seconds), with greater lag scores associated with self-reported measures of stress and greater lag scores in participants with schizophrenia. Overall, noncanonical alpha-BOLD coupling is widespread across the DMN and other non-cortical regions, and is delayed in people with schizophrenia. These findings are consistent with a "hemo-neural" hypothesis, that blood flow and/or metabolism can regulate ongoing neural activity, and further, that the hemo-neural lag may be associated with subjective arousal or stress. Our work highlights the need for more studies of neurovascular coupling in psychiatric conditions.

Psychometric evaluation and item response theory analysis of the COVID Stress Scales in an older adult population

Objectives The COVID Stress Scales (CSS) represent a widely used self-report measure of stress and anxiety-related responses to COVID-19. Although the CSS have been validated across various nations and languages, their psychometric properties have not been assessed at the factor- or item-level with older adults. We aimed to psychometrically evaluate the CSS in older adults. Method The CSS was examined with 486 North American older adults aged 65 years and older. Data were collected in January 2024 using Qualtrics Panels. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients, structural validity using confirmatory factor analysis, and discriminant validity using a social desirability measure. Item properties were examined using item response theory. Results The CSS demonstrated robust internal consistency and a defensible five- and six-factor structure, with the six-factor providing the most optimal model of measurement. All items adequately discriminated among respondents with varying levels of COVID-related stress. Conclusion This study is first to demonstrate that the CSS functions as a reliable and valid tool for evaluating COVID-related stress among older adults, a necessary step for supporting its use in assessing mental health impacts of pandemics in a population at high risk of negative post-infection outcomes.

The effects of controlled acute psychological stress on serum cortisol and plasma metanephrine concentrations in healthy subjects

Background As cortisol and metanephrine are involved in the stress response, it is often recommended that individuals are relaxed at the time of venepuncture, however, evidence behind these recommendations is lacking. We investigated the effects of acute psychological stress on serum cortisol and plasma metanephrine concentrations in healthy individuals exposed to varying levels of psychological stress and compared these results to self-reported measures of stress. Methods Ten medical students completed two medical in-person simulations (one low-complexity, one high-complexity) in a random order. At four times, participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and serum cortisol and plasma metanephrine/normetanephrine were tested. Results Median (interquartile range) STAI prior to the low-complexity simulation was 44 (18) versus 33 (13) afterwards ( P = 0.050). STAI prior to the high-complexity simulation was 33 (10) versus 48 (17) afterwards ( P = 0.007). Cortisol prior to the low-complexity simulation was 272 nmol/L (115) versus 247 (115) afterwards ( P = 0.333). Prior to the high-complexity simulation, cortisol was 246 (70) versus 261 (137) afterwards ( P = 0.859). Metanephrine prior to the low-complexity simulation was 242 pmol/L (79) versus 247 (93) afterwards ( P = 0.515). Metanephrine prior to the high-complexity simulation was 220 (81) versus 251 pmol/L (120) afterwards ( P = 0.074). Normetanephrine prior to the low-complexity simulation was 593 pmol/L (247) versus 682 (281) afterwards ( P = 0.047 for the difference). Normetanephrine prior to the high-complexity simulation was 696 (123) versus 705 pmol/L (224) afterwards ( P = 0.169). Conclusions The trend in cortisol levels largely reflected changes in STAI. We outline some implications of these findings for current practice and future research.

Evaluating the factor structure of the pregnancy-related anxiety scale: implications for maternal and infant wellbeing

ABSTRACT Aims/Background Although the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale – also referred to as the Pregnancy-Related Thoughts Scale (PRT) – is one of the most widely utilised measures of pregnancy-related anxiety (PrA), there is limited research exploring its factor structure and psychometric properties. The present study sought to (a) explore the factor structure of the PRT and (b) examine whether specific dimensions of PrA differentially predict postpartum outcomes. Design/Methods A community sample of pregnant women (N = 159) was recruited from a Midwestern city in the United States and completed the PRT alongside other self-report measures of stress and maternal health and mood during pregnancy. Participants also completed measures of maternal health and mood, as well as parenting/infant outcomes, at 1- and 6-months postpartum. Results Results provided support for a bifactor model with two unique dimensions of the PRT capturing baby- and self-focused concerns, respectively. Maternal self-focused PrA uniquely predicted postpartum internalising problems (β = .22), worse physical health (β = -.27), and impaired mother-infant bonding (β = .19) when controlling for baby-focused and general PrA. Conclusion Findings highlight the utility of screening for specific dimensions of PrA to promote both maternal and infant wellbeing following childbirth. Specifically, evidence suggests that screening for self-focused PrA, above and beyond baby-focused PrA, might facilitate prevention and intervention efforts and allow researchers to better understand antecedents and consequences of unique facets of PrA.

Beyond the Descriptive: A Comprehensive, Multidomain Validation of Symptom Trajectories for Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

Although the clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) criteria are widely used to ascertain individuals at heightened risk for imminent onset of psychosis, it remains controversial whether CHR-P status defines a diagnostic construct in its own right. In a previous study, CHR-P nonconverters were observed to follow 3 distinct trajectories in symptoms and functioning: remission, partial remission, and maintenance of symptoms and functional impairments at subthreshold levels of intensity. Here, we utilized the NAPLS3 (North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study phase 3) sample (N= 806) to determine whether 1) the same trajectory groups can be detected when assessing symptoms at 2-month intervals over an 8-month period and 2) the resulting trajectory groups differ from each other and from healthy control participants and converting CHR-P cases in terms of risk factors, comorbidities, and functional outcomes. Three distinctive subgroups within the CHR nonconverters were identified, largely paralleling those observed previously. Importantly, these extracted groups, together with non-CHR control participants and CHR converters, differed from each other significantly on putative etiological risk factors (e.g., predicted risk scores, physiological and self-report measures of stress), affective comorbidities, and functional outcomes, thus providing converging evidence supporting the validity of the identified trajectory groups. This pattern, together with the fact that even the subgroup of CHR-P nonconverters who showed a remission trajectory deviated from healthy control participants, supports treating the CHR-P syndrome not only as a status that denotes risk for onset of full psychosis but also as a marker of ongoing distress for a population that is in need of interventions.

Examining the association of familial and social stress, trauma, and support on mood, anxiety, and behavioral symptoms and diagnoses in youth at risk for bipolar disorder and controls

Youth with a family history of bipolar disorder (At-Risk) have a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders and experiencing environmental stressors than youth without such family history (Control). We studied the differential associations of familial and environmental factors on developing psychiatric diagnoses and symptoms, in At-Risk and Control youth. At-Risk and Control youth (N=466, ages 9-22) were systematically assessed for severity of symptoms, psychiatric diagnoses, and self-reported measures of stress and social support. We tested the association of family history and measures of stress or support with symptom severity and diagnoses. At-Risk youth had higher symptom severity scores and were more frequently diagnosed with psychiatric disorders (all p values<0.001). When predicting mood symptom severity, family history had an interaction effect with stressful life events (p<0.001) and number of distinct traumatic events (p=0.001). In multivariate models, At-Risk status predicted anxiety disorders (OR=2.7, CI 1.3-5.4, p=0.005) and anxiety severity (Coefficient=0.4, CI 0.2-0.7, p<0.001) but not mood or behavioral disorder diagnoses or severity. Measures of stress and social support were based on self-report. Not all participants had passed through the period of risk for developing the outcomes under study and the follow up period was variable. We could not fully study the differential impact of physical or sexual abuse due to low frequency of occurrence in controls. At-Risk youth exhibit more severe mood symptoms compared to Controls when exposed to similar levels of stress or trauma. At-Risk youth are also more prone to develop anxiety which may be a precursor for bipolar disorder.

The association between sensory processing and stress in the adult population: A systematic review.

There is emerging empirical evidence indicating that differences in self-reported sensory processing may be associated with differences in levels of stress in the adult populations. Understanding how sensory processing relates to stress is of clinical relevance, given the well-established impact of stress on physical health, mental health and well-being. Although several studies have examined the association between sensory processing and stress in adult populations, no published reviews have systematically summarised and synthesised these findings. We aimed to fill this gap by conducting a systematic review to synthesise the available evidence examining the association between self-reported sensory processing and self-reported measures of stress in the adult population. The review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-S) checklist. Twenty studies were included in the final review. Quality assessment was conducted with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Overall, the evidence is strong for an association between differences in sensory processing and self-reported stress in adults. This association was found across a range of populations and measures of stress, in cross-sectional studies. The most commonly used measure of sensory processing was the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, which was consistently moderately associated with a range of measures of stress. The quality of the included studies was generally good, with most meeting four or five out of five criteria. Longitudinal studies are lacking. There is strong evidence for a cross-sectional association between sensory processing and stress in an adult population. Further research, in particular longitudinal studies and studies including clinical populations, would be of benefit in order to establish causality.

Religious minority identity associates with stress and psychological health among Muslim and Hindu women in Bangladesh and London.

This study examined the association of minority religious identification (Hindu or Muslim) with self-reported stress and psychological symptoms among sedentee and immigrant Bangladeshi women. Women, aged 35-59 (n = 531) were drawn from Sylhet, Bangladesh and London, England. Muslim immigrants in London and Hindu sedentees in Sylhet represented minority religious identities. Muslim sedentees in Sylhet and Londoners of European descent represented majority religious identities. In bivariate analyses, minority religious identity was examined in relation to self-reported measures of stress, nervous tension, and depressed mood. Logistic regression was applied to examine the relationship between these variables while adjusting for marital status, parity, daily walking, and perceived financial comfort. In bivariate analyses, religious minorities reported more stress than religious majorities in all group comparisons (p < .05), and minority Muslims reported more nervous tension and depressed mood than majority Muslims (p < .05). In logistic regression models, minority Muslims had greater odds of high stress than majority Muslims (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.18-3.39). Minority Muslims had greater odds of stress (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.51-6.17) and nervous tension (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.66-6.87) than majority Londoners. Financial comfort reduced odds of stress and symptoms in all models. Socioeconomic situation, immigration history, and minority ethnicity appear to influence the relationship between religious identity and psychosomatic symptoms in Bangladeshi women. Attention to personal and socioeconomic context is important for research examining the association between religion and mental health.

Stress and Right Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Interactive Effects on Visual Working Memory and Learning.

Stress impacts prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity and modulates working memory performance. In a recent study, stimulating the dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) interacted with social stress in modulating participants' working memory. More specifically, stress disrupted the enhancing effects of dlPFC tDCS on working memory performance. The current study aimed to further explore these initial findings by randomizing healthy females to four experimental conditions (N = 130); stimulation (right dlPFC tDCS vs. sham) and stress manipulation (social stress vs. control). Participants performed cognitive tasks (i.e., visual working memory task and a visual declarative memory task) at baseline and post-stimulation. They also completed self-report measures of stress and anxiety. A significant stimulation × stress interaction was evident in the declarative memory (One-Card Learning, OCL) task, while working memory performance was unaffected. Though tDCS stimulation and stress did not interact to affect working memory, further research is warranted as these initial findings suggest that immediate visual-memory learning may be affected by these factors. The limited number of earlier studies, as well as the variability in their designs, provides additional impetus for studying the interactive effects of stress and tDCS on human visual learning.

Protocol for randomized personalized trial for stress management compared to standard of care.

Stress is a significant public health burden in the United States, with most Americans reporting unhealthy levels of stress. Stress management techniques include various evidence-based treatments shown to be effective but with heterogeneous treatment responses, indicating a lack of uniform benefits for all individuals. Designed to assess a participant's response to a specific intervention, personalized (N-of-1) trials provide guidance for which treatment (s) work (s) best for the individual. Prior studies examining the effects of mindfulness meditation, yoga, and walking for stress reduction found all three interventions to be associated with significant reductions in self-reported measures of stress. Delivering these treatments using a personalized trial approach has the potential to assist clinicians in identifying the best stress management techniques for individuals with persistently high stress while fostering treatment decisions that consider their personal condition/barriers. This trial will evaluate a personalized approach compared to standard of care for three interventions (guided mindfulness meditation; guided yoga; and guided brisk walking) to manage perceived stress. Participants will respond to daily surveys and wear a Fitbit device for 18 weeks. After a 2-week baseline period, participants in the personalized trial groups will receive 12 weeks of interventions in randomized order, while participants in the standard-of-care group will have access to all interventions for self-directed stress management. After intervention, all participants will undergo 2 weeks of observation, followed by two additional weeks of the stress management intervention of their choosing while continuing outcome measurement. At study completion, all participants will be sent a satisfaction survey. The primary analysis will compare perceived stress levels between the personalized and standard of care arms. The results of this trial will provide further support for the use of personalized designs for managing stress. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05408832. Protocol version: 9/14/2022, 21-0968-MRB.

The psychophysiological reactivity to beaches vs. to green and urban environments: insights from a virtual reality experiment

The psychophysiological reactivity to beaches vs. to green and urban environments: insights from a virtual reality experiment

Examining the Associations of Early Childhood Teacher’s Emotional Well-being with Physiologic Stress, Mindfulness and Self-Compassion

Recent national reports indicate that early childhood (EC) teachers experience exceptionally high levels of chronic stress which can lead to adverse health outcomes. In this presentation, we share preliminary evidence of a mindfulness-based intervention, Cultivating Healthy Intentional Mindful Educators (CHIME) to support EC teachers’ regulatory processes. We hypothesize EC teachers’ social-emotional health is related to emotion regulation and their physiologic stress in the early care environment. EC teachers (n = 32 intervention, 22 waitlist control) recruited during 2020-2022 completed self-report measures of stress, well-being, mindfulness, and emotion regulation and task-based measures of emotional processing. Participants wore Actihearts (CamTech, Inc) to record their heart rate for three consecutive days in the classroom pre- and post-intervention. Controlling for pre-intervention metrics, the intervention group showed a tendency toward higher heart rate variability than controls post-intervention, F(1,44) = 3.84, p =.06. They also showed higher power in the high frequency heart rate band (F(1,44) = 3.92, p =.05) and lower average heart rate in the classroom (F(1,44) = 5.91, p =.02), despite showing similar activity levels to the control group, F(1,42) =.35, p =.56. There were significant differences in emotion dysregulation between the groups, with the CHIME group evidencing reduced emotion dysregulation, increased mental well-being, as well as differences in their response times during two emotional processing tasks, p’s <.05. Preliminary findings indicate that a mindfulness-based intervention is one promising way to support the emotional well-being of EC teachers.

Extraversion is associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress

Extraversion has been associated with positive physical health outcomes, with adaptive cardiovascular responses to stress being one potential physiological mechanism. The present study examined the influence of extraversion on both cardiovascular reactivity and cardiovascular habituation to an acute psychological stress task (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)) in a sample of healthy undergraduate students. A sample of 467 undergraduate students completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI) to assess trait extraversion and attended a single stress testing session. The testing session included two identical stress-testing protocols, each consisting of a 10-minute baseline and 4-minute PASAT. Cardiovascular parameters including heart rate (HR), systolic/diastolic blood pressure (S/DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded throughout the testing session. State measures of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA), as well as post task measures of self-reported stress were used to assess psychological experiences of the stress task. Extraversion was significantly associated with lower self-reported stress in response to the initial stress exposure, but not the second stress exposure. Higher levels of extraversion were associated with lower SBP, DBP, MAP and HR reactivity in responses to both exposures to the stressor. However, no significant associations were observed between extraversion and cardiovascular habituation to recurring psychological stress. Extraversion is associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress and this relationship persists upon repeated exposures to the same stressor. Cardiovascular responses to stress may indicate a potential mechanism facilitating the association between extraversion and positive physical health outcomes.

Comparing The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress and Well-Being in College Students: A Study of Meditators Vs. Non-Meditators

This study aimed to compare the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress and well-being in college students. A total of 50 participants were recruited, with 25 self-identified as meditators and 25 as non-meditators. All participants completed self-report measures of stress, well-being, mood, resilience, self-compassion, and academic performance. The results showed that the meditator group had significantly lower levels of stress, higher well-being scores, better mood, greater resilience, and higher levels of self-compassion compared to the non-meditator group. In terms of academic performance, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The study findings suggest that mindfulness meditation may be an effective tool for reducing stress and improving well-being among college students. However, further research is needed to explore the barriers to practicing mindfulness meditation and to determine the optimal frequency and duration of practice to achieve significant benefits.

Disordered eating is associated with blunted blood pressure reactivity and poorer habituation to acute psychological stress

Psychological stress has been shown to influence the development and progression of disordered eating. Psychophysiological studies have reported that individuals with disordered eating behavior exhibit atypical cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress. However, prior studies have been limited by small sample sizes and have examined cardiovascular responses to a singular stress exposure. The current study examined the association between disordered eating and cardiovascular reactivity, as well as cardiovascular habituation to acute psychological stress. A mixed-sex sample (N=450) of undergraduate students were categorized into a disordered eating or non-disordered eating group using a validated disordered eating screening questionnaire and attended a laboratory stress testing session. The testing session included two identical stress-testing protocols, each consisting of a 10-minute baseline and 4-minute stress task. Cardiovascular parameters including heart rate, systolic/diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded throughout the testing session. Post task measures of self-reported stress, as well as positive affect and negative affect (NA) reactivity were used to assess psychological reactions to stress. The disordered eating group exhibited greater increases in NA reactivity in response to both stress exposures. Additionally, in comparison to the control group, those in the disordered eating group exhibited blunted MAP reactivity to the initial stress exposure and less MAP habituation across both stress exposures. These findings indicate that disordered eating is characterized by dysregulated hemodynamic stress responsivity, which may constitute a physiological mechanism leading to poor physical health outcomes.

Validation of a German Version of the Stress Overload Scale and Comparison of Different Time Frames in the Instructions

Abstract: Introduction: The Stress Overload Scale (SOS; Amirkhan, 2012 , 2018 ) was introduced as a two-factorial self-report measure of stress to overcome limitations of other scales. Methods: We developed a German translation of the SOS and validated it in addition to a short version and an extra-short version. Furthermore, we tested whether manipulating the time frame introduced as retention interval in the instructions affected its psychometric properties. Results: Using two independent age-heterogeneous convenience samples ( Ntotal = 1,239), we found good psychometric properties for a modified German short version of the SOS-S (SOS-S-G) and a new extra-short version (SOS-XS-G), but not for the German long version of the SOS. Moreover, manipulating the time frame of the SOS did not affect its psychometric quality. Discussion The SOS enriches the repertoire of self-report measures of stress as it captures the nonpathological core facets of stress in line with theoretical stress conceptualizations.

An Exploratory Study of a Health and Wellness Intervention on STEM College Students During COVID-19

To address the growing health challenges faced by college students, campus recreation departments have evolved from a primary university intramural sport setting to organizations that have an increased emphasis on student recruitment, retention, and overall wellness. Among the strategies used to attract and engage students in campus recreation programs and services, health coaching shows some promise as a potentially effective intervention strategy. This study examined the efficacy of a university campus recreation health coaching program. Students from Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines (n = 34) were provided with individual, group, and virtual support to assist in developing effective strategies for academic success. Fitbit data measuring participants’ sleep and physical activity were collected along with self-reported measures of stress and perceived happiness and focus group qualitative data focused on participants’ perceptions of the program. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the program to adapt, findings suggest that health coaching may be an effective intervention strategy to help university students cope with the heightened anxiety and stress levels associated with campus life.

Individually guided training prescription by heart rate variability and self-reported measure of stress tolerance in recreational runners: Effects on endurance performance

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the effect of endurance training individually guided by objective (Heart Rate Variability-HRV) or self-report measure of stress (DALDA-questionnaire) in comparison to predefined endurance training prescription for improving endurance performance in recreational runners. After a 2-week preliminary baseline period to establish resting HRV and self-reported measure of stress, thirty-six male recreational runners were randomly assigned to HRV-guided (GHRV; n = 12), DALDA-guided (GD; n = 12) or predefined training (GT; n = 12) prescription groups. Before and after 5-weeks of endurance training, participants performed a track field peak velocity (Vpeak_TF), time limit (Tlim) at 100% of Vpeak_TF and 5 km time-trial (5 km TT) tests. GD lead to higher improvements in Vpeak_TF (8.4 ± 1.8%; ES = 1.41) and 5 km TT (−12.8 ± 4.2%; ES = −1.97), than GHRV (6.6 ± 1.5% and −8.3 ± 2.8%; ES = −1.20; 1.24) and GT (4.9 ± 1.5% and −6.0 ± 3.3%; ES = −0.82; 0.68), respectively, with no differences for Tlim. Self-report measures of stress may be used to individualize endurance training prescription on a daily basis leading to better performance enhancement, which may be used with HRV for a holistic understanding of daily training-induce adaptations.

Maternal stress and hair cortisol among pregnant women following hurricane Florence.

We analyzed multiple stress measures among 37 participants who were pregnant during Hurricane Florence. We used questionnaires modeled on previous studies to assess hardship associated with the hurricane, psychological distress, sociodemographic characteristics, social support, and food security. We analyzed cortisol concentrations in proximal and distal hair sections, representing stress around the time of the disaster (distal) and 3-4months following the disaster (proximal). We used linear regression to test relationships between hair cortisol and self-report stress measures, and variations based on marital status. Self-report measures of distress and hardship were similar among married and unmarried participants. Mean cortisol levels in distal and proximal sections were higher among unmarried participants. Controlling for confounding variables, hardship was not associated with hair cortisol. Distress predicted cortisol in distal sections (β=.482, p=.018), with a trend for proximal sections (β=.368, p=.055). Marital status was a significant predictor of distal (β=.388, p=.027) and proximal (β=.333, p=.047) hair cortisol, explaining 8.6%-11.7% of unique variance. Preexisting and intersecting risk factors likely place unmarried pregnant individuals at risk of stress during and following a disaster.

Mindful Parenting Mediated Between Mothers’ Perceived Stress During COVID-19 and Child Adjustment

ObjectivesMaternal stress is associated with a myriad of maladjusted outcomes among children. To identify the role of mindful parenting between mothers’ stress and child adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study tested competing hypotheses with mothers’ mindful parenting as a mediator versus a moderator.MethodsA total of 172 Chinese mothers of preschool-aged children participated in this study. Participants completed a self-report measure of stress during COVID-19 and mindful parenting, as well as a mother-report measure of children’s prosocial behavior, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems. Structural equation models were conducted to examine the mediation versus moderation effects of mindful parenting between mothers’ stress during COVID-19 and child adjustment, after controlling for family income, children’s age, sex, and adjustment at baseline.ResultsFindings indicated that mindful parenting mediated the link between mothers’ stress during COVID-19 and child adjustment, including internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior. A test of competing hypothesis showed that mindful parenting did not moderate between mothers’ stress during COVID-19 and child adjustment.ConclusionsThis study revealed the mediating effects of mindful parenting between mothers’ perceived stress during COVID-19 and child adjustment. The findings inform researchers and practitioners about mindful parenting as a potential mechanism between maternal stress and child adjustment during the pandemic.