Reducing parenting stress in Chinese parents of children with learning disabilities with a mindful parenting program: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Parents raising children with Learning Disabilities (LDs) often face multiple challenges and high levels of parenting stress, especially in societies with intense academic competitions. Mindful parenting (MP) is an emerging approach that brings mindful awareness to parent-child interactions and is found effective in reducing parenting stress in various parent populations.

AIMS

This study examined the effectivenesss of an 8-week online MP program on Chinese parents of children with LDs.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

A MP program was adapted and implemented in an online format with 69 parents of children with LDs. A randomized controlled trial design was used to examine the efficacy of the mindful parenting group compared with a wait-list control group. Parenting stress, mindful parenting and self-compassion were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

Compared with the wait-list control group, the MP group participants showed decreased parenting stress (d = 0.62, p < 0.05), improved mindful parenting (d = 0.63, p < 0.05), and increased self-compassion (d = 0.61, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These findings support the effectiveness of an online MP intervention in reducing parenting stress and increasing mindful parenting and self-compassion among Chinese parents of children with LDs. The behavioral and intrapersonal aspects of MP are more amenable to improvement, whereas the attitudinal and interpersonal aspects, particularly non-judgmental acceptance and compassion towards the child, are resistant to change. Future studies should explore strategies to enhance these attitudinal aspects and interpersonal processes of MP.

Family-centered profiles of mindful parenting: Longitudinal associations with negative parenting and youth emotional and behavioral problems

There has been great interest in analyzing the potential of mindful parenting in promoting family well-being. Studies indicated that there is a lack of research on the predictive relationship between parenting practice and youth emotional and behavioral problems analyzed from a multi-informant perspective. This study evaluates the family-centered profiles of mothers and fathers' mindful parenting and negative parenting and youth problems associated with those profiles. A total of 441 youths (aged 9-14 years), along with their parents, answered self-report questionnaires in a three-wave longitudinal study conducted over 1 year. A latent profile analysis was performed to examine the mindful parenting profiles and to identify their associations with youth emotional and behavioral problems and negative parenting as outcomes. The results of latent profile analyses supported a three-profile solution: low mindful parenting family (35%), high maternal mindful parenting family (24%), and average mindful parenting family (41%). The low mindful parenting family profile showed the highest scores on negative parenting and youth emotional and behavioral problems. The high maternal mindful parenting family profile had the lowest scores on youth negative outcomes but demonstrated similar levels to those of the average mindful parenting family profile regarding negative parenting. Our findings highlight the importance of analyzing specific family profiles that help to develop personalized interventions with optimized treatments regarding family cohesion and environment.

A preliminary validation of PMQ-A four-factor questionnaire measuring parental mentalizing

The present study describes the construction and preliminary validation of a new parental mentalizing scale, PMQ. Based on theory, we hypothesized that one higher-order parental mentalizing factor would comprise four dimensions of parental mentalizing: (1) Parental self-mentalizing (SELF), (2) Parental child-mentalizing (CHILD), (3) Effort (E), and (4) Curiosity (C). After modifying the content of one factor (Effort > Lack of Effort, LE), four-factor structure with one higher-order factor was confirmed in data collected from parents of children aged two to 6 years through social media and email lists (N = 321, 10% male). All factors loaded significantly on the higher-order factor, with acceptable internal consistencies. Next, PMQ factors were compared with the factors of a previously validated questionnaire, parental reflective functioning questionnaire (PRFQ). The PMQ and PRFQ factors were consistently and significantly correlated, indicating the validity of the PMQ as a measure of parental mentalization ability. The continuation of PMQ validation is discussed.

The protective role of mindful parenting against child maltreatment and aggressive behavior: an exploratory study among Chinese parent-adolescent dyads

BACKGROUND

It is well-established that child maltreatment practiced by parents is associated with adolescent aggression. Emerging evidence has suggested that higher levels of mindful parenting are associated with fewer negative parenting practices. However, the relationships among mindful parenting, child maltreatment, and adolescent aggression remain unclear.

AIM

To examine the association between mindful parenting, child maltreatment, and adolescent aggressive behavior among Chinese parent-adolescent dyads.

METHODS

Survey data from 554 Chinese parent-adolescent dyads were used for the analysis. Parents reported mindful parenting, and adolescents reported three forms of child maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, psychological aggression, and neglect) by their parents and aggressive behavior. Path models were used to analyze whether higher levels of mindful parenting were associated with decreased likelihood of parent-to-adolescent maltreatment that were further related to lower levels of adolescent aggression.

RESULTS

Mindful parenting and its two factors (i.e., interaction with full attention and compassion and acceptance) were associated with lower likelihood of physical abuse and psychological aggression, which were related to decreased levels of adolescent aggressive behavior. Stratified analyses by parent gender showed that the path from interaction with full attention to adolescent aggression through psychological aggression was also significant or marginally significant in both mother-adolescent and father-adolescent dyads. Stratified analyses by adolescent gender demonstrated that the paths from interaction with full attention to physical abuse and psychological aggression were significant, which were also significantly correlated with adolescent aggression among male adolescents, whereas the mindful parenting-child maltreatment-adolescent aggression paths were not significant among female adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings contributed to the existing literature by assessing mindful parenting as a multifaceted construct and exploring the gender differences in the relationships. Gender-tailored interventions to improve mindful parenting, specifically focusing on the parents' ability of interacting with adolescents providing full attention, compassion, and acceptance may work towards preventing child maltreatment and promoting adolescent behavioral health.