Trait mindfulness does not appear to be directly transmitted from parents to children, but mindful parenting practices correlate with both parents' and children's mindfulness levels. A cross-sectional survey of Chinese families found no correlation between parents' and children's mindfulness levels, while mindful parenting was associated with mindfulness in both generations. The authors argue that mindful parenting may play a key role in fostering mindfulness across generations and recommend its application in family education.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) are non-pharmacological approaches that emphasize self-regulation and sustainable mental health. This review synthesizes high-quality randomized controlled trial evidence on their efficacy. MBCT demonstrates robust preventive effects in recurrent depression, while MBSR shows consistent benefits for anxiety and stress-related conditions. Theoretical mechanisms include decentering, attention regulation, and emotional acceptance as core transdiagnostic processes. However, contributions to long-term maintenance, responses to specific diseases, and group support remain controversial. Methodological challenges include heterogeneous interventions, limited active control conditions, and cultural issues. Future research should include long-term follow-up, mechanism-focused design, biomarker integration, and digital mindfulness interventions.