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Regulation of Stress Physiology While Parenting: a Randomized Micro-trial of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Parenting and Salivary Alpha Amylase.

Emily B Reilly

Prevention Science April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-025-01795-x (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 136
Population Parents (114 mothers, 22 fathers) of toddlers aged 18-36 months
Interventions Loving-kindness meditation focused-imagery audio podcast
Duration Single session during a video call
Topics Meditation
Keywords Loving-kindness meditation Micro-trial Salivary alpha amylase Sensitive parenting Toddlerhood
Citations 1
Key findings Loving-kindness meditation did not significantly increase parent sensitivity but did alter salivary alpha amylase activity, decreasing sympathetic activity across the session compared to a podcast group.

Abstract

Sensitive parenting early in life sets children up for healthy development, and this type of parenting draws on the parent's compassion and physiological regulation. Loving-kindness meditations (LKM) increase compassion and reduce physiological responses to stressors and so may support sensitive parenting. The current study tested the effects of a LKM on parent sensitivity and salivary alpha amylase (sAA) during a parent-child interaction. One hundred and thirty-six parents (114 mothers, 22 fathers) of toddlers (18-36 months, M = 28.85 months, SD = 5.13) participated in an online survey and were randomly assigned to listen to either a LKM, focused-imagery audio, or podcast during a video call before engaging in a play-based interaction with their toddler. Parent sAA was collected from parents at five points throughout the video call. LKM did not significantly increase parent sensitivity (B = 0.06, p = 0.86); however, there was limited variability in sensitivity in this sample (M = 6.01, SD = 0.89). The LKM did affect sAA activity (B = - 0.66, p < 0.05) such that parents in the LKM group gradually decreased sympathetic activity across the research session, whereas the podcast group increased sAA levels after the parent-child interaction. Overall, these findings suggest that engaging in compassion and self-compassion can change the pattern of stress physiology in parents of toddlers while parenting.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment 2003 Randomized controlled trial n = 41
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults 2008 Randomized controlled trial n = 139
Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students 2007 Randomized controlled trial n = 40
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73

Citations in the library

Cites 5

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