Developing a Mindful Parenting Intervention for Low-Income Parents of Children Ages 0-5: Effects on Parent Mental Health, Parenting Stress and the Parent-Child Relationship

OBJECTIVES: Mindfulness is learning to observe and accept one’s thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, as opposed to reflexively reacting to them. Mindfulness-based interventions demonstrate significant positive impact for a range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and addiction. A promising approach is to apply the principles of mindfulness to the challenges of parenting. Families experiencing poverty, toxic stress, and other risk factors are at greater risk for mental and physical health problems. These experiences undermine optimal parenting support, increasing risk for mental health problems in offspring. Mindful practice cultivates patience, compassion, and the capacity to maintain an emotional “even keel.” These skills are relevant for enhancing parental responsiveness and attunement. This presentation features preliminary outcome data for a mindful parenting group for low-income parents whose children attend an early education center. The intervention is being developed in collaboration with a community-based organization based in Washington, DC and with significant input from parent participants to ensure that it is culturally and linguistically appropriate.

METHODS: Two cohorts of participants (n=18) attended a one-hour, weekly mindful parenting group for six weeks. Participants ranged in age from 21 to 50 years (M=33; 83% African American, 15% Multiracial; 85% Female) and had children between 0-5 years. Data was collected at two time points (pre-intervention and post-intervention) on mindfulness, mood, and parenting. Focus groups were also conducted with parents.

RESULTS: On average, participants experienced a trend level decrease in parental distress, t(17)=1.78, p=.09, d=.26, and a trend level increase in positive affect t(17)=-1.84, p=.08, d=.34, mindful parenting t(17)=-1.82, p=.09, d=.30, parental support t(17)=-1.96, p=.07, d=.36, and perceived closeness with their child t(17)=-1.74, p=.10, d=.52. In addition, correlations of post-intervention data indicate that increases in mindful parenting was associated with significant decreases in parental distress (r=-.48) and traumatic stress symptoms (-.53) and increases in positive affect (r=.49), supportive communication with their child (r=.69).

CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the application and feasibility of conducting mindful parenting groups with at-risk families. In particular, it was interesting to find that parents were more cognizant of the times they were not mindful with their children, but still their level of parental distress decreased. Findings from focus groups with participants will be presented to illustrate the process of co-creation and feasibility. Additional findings from two more cohorts will be available to further replicate these findings.