Mindful Parenting for Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorder Diagnosis
Pietro Muratori, Alessia Catarina, Anna Conversano, Valentina Levantini, Silvia Villani, Annarita Milone
Children February 26, 2026 DOI: 10.3390/children13030325 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study, single-group pre–post design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 63 |
| Population | Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis followed in a child psychiatry hospital |
| Intervention | Mindful parenting intervention |
| Dose | eight sessions |
| Duration | Eight-session intervention, pre-post assessment |
| Measures | questionnaires assessing positive and negative parenting and five mindfulness dimensions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention counseling Neurodevelopmental disorder Psychological intervention Positive parenting Typically developing Clinical psychology Developmental psychology |
| Key points | The intervention improved negative parenting and three mindfulness facets (acting with awareness, non-judging, non-reacting) from pre- to post-intervention. |
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effect of an eight-session mindful parenting intervention on parents’ mindfulness and parenting dimensions.
Methods: The intervention was delivered to parents of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorder Diagnosis, followed in a child psychiatry hospital. The sample included 63 adults (40 females; mean age = 44 years). At the beginning and end of the intervention, participants completed questionnaires assessing positive and negative parenting and five mindfulness dimensions. Paired-sample t-tests were conducted to detect significant changes in the relevant measures from pre- to post-intervention.
Results: Results revealed improvements in Negative Parenting (t = 2.82, p = 0.008, Hedges g = 0.29), Acting with Awareness (t = −2.14, p = 0.039, Hedges g = 0.26), Non-Judging (t = −2.17, p = 0.037, Hedges g = 0.35), and Non-Reacting (t = −2.68, p = 0.011, Hedges g = 0.52).
Conclusions: Despite its preliminary results and single-group pre–post design, this pilot study aligns with evidence supporting mindful parenting interventions and provides initial insights into their impact on parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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 10
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- A Model of Mindful Parenting: Implications for Parent–Child Relationships and Prevention Research Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review May 2, 2009
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Behavioral Problems and Attentional Functioning in Adolescents with ADHD Journal of Child and Family Studies September 21, 2011
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for children with autism and their parents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- Changes in mindfulness facets across yoga, CBT and stress education in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Mood and Anxiety Disorders June 1, 2024
and 5 more in the library