Internet-Based Self-Help Mindful Self-Compassion Intervention for Parents of Children With Cancer: A Pilot Study.
Xiangyi Tan, Yuwei Zhang, Yiling Yang, Ruiqing Cai, Jinlu Chen, Jiangnan Meng, Xiaofeng He, Jiaying Huang, Jing Zhang, Weijie Wang, Jiubo Zhao, Lei Shi
Western Journal of Nursing Research December 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1177/01939459231206316 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post-test study without a control group Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 34 |
| Population | Chinese parents of children with cancer |
| Intervention | Internet-based self-help mindful self-compassion intervention |
| Duration | 6-week intervention, 10-week post-baseline follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Parent Pediatric oncology Self-compassion Self-help |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | The mindful self-compassion program improved self-compassion, re-experiencing, physical depressive symptoms, and sleep quality in parents of children with cancer. |
Abstract
Parents of children with cancer may experience persistent psychological distress and impaired physical health throughout their children's diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to develop a mindful self-compassion program for parents of children with cancer and explore its effect. This pre-post-test study without a control group was conducted with 34 Chinese parents of children with cancer, using mixed methods. Participants received a 6-week internet-based self-help mindful self-compassion intervention. Self-compassion, post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, and sleep quality were measured at baseline and at 10 weeks post-baseline. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 completers within 10 days after the intervention was completed. Significant differences were observed in self-compassion, re-experiencing, physical depressive symptoms, and sleep quality. Two participants reported feeling miserable or recalling distressing experiences, of which one withdrew from the study while the other completed the intervention. The program could improve self-compassion, re-experiencing, physical depressive symptoms, and sleep quality in parents of children with cancer, which demonstrated the feasibility of delivering a self-help mindful self-compassion intervention through the internet. Increasing retention rates in future studies merits further discussion.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- The effect of mindfulness meditation on sleep quality: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences December 21, 2018
- A mindful self-compassion videoconference intervention for nationally recruited posttreatment young adult cancer survivors: feasibility, acceptability, and psychosocial outcomes. Supportive Care in Cancer January 19, 2017
- A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the mindful self-compassion program. Journal of Clinical Psychology October 15, 2012