Inter-generational Transmission of Mindfulness Traits: A Mindfulness-Based Parenting Approach
Shiman Zhang
Springer Link June 30, 2026 DOI: 10.1051/shsconf/202623503006/pdf (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Chinese families with primary school students |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Trait Correlation Data collection Transmission telecommunications Qualitative research Developmental psychology Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Key findings | Mindfulness levels are correlated between parents and children only through mindful parenting, not directly. |
Abstract
In recent years, chinese scholars have gradually recognized the possibility and necessity of applying mindfulness to primary school students’ education. Currently, mindful parenting has been proven to be related to children’s behavioral and emotional problems. However, there is a certain research gap in the inter - generational transmission of traits. Based on this, the main research question of this study is whether trait mindfulness can be passed down across generations, and further to explore the correlations among the three variables of parents’ mindfulness level, children’s mindfulness level, and parents’ mindful parenting level. This study adopts a cross - sectional research method and conducts an exploration of the above questions through the data collection means of distributing questionnaires. From the data results, there is a correlation between mindfulness levels and mindful parenting levels, and there is no correlation in mindfulness levels between parents. However, there is a correlation between the level of mindful parenting and the mindfulness levels of parents and children respectively. This study explores the relationship between mindful parenting and inter - generational mindfulness levels and affirms the importance of applying mindful parenting in family education.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |