Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Parents of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review
Tiara Minnatul Maula, Sri Redatin Retno Pudjiati
Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology May 31, 2026 DOI: 10.12928/jehcp.vi.31919 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | MBIs generally reduce parenting stress, anxiety, and depression in parents of children with NDD, with brief and online formats showing comparable efficacy to face-to-face protocols, though results were not fully uniform. |
Abstract
Parenting children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD) involves chronic stressors impacting family well-being. While Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) reduce stress, recent digital and brief modalities require systematic evaluation. This study synthesizes evidence on MBI effectiveness for parents of children with NDD regarding psychological functioning and parenting outcomes. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search across seven databases identified 23 eligible studies published between 2016 and 2025. Findings suggest promising benefits of MBIs in reducing parenting stress, anxiety, and depression via de-centering mechanisms, although results are not fully uniform across studies. Crucially, brief and online interventions showed potential efficacy comparable to traditional face-to-face protocols, addressing accessibility barriers. MBIs represent a robust, transdiagnostic intervention for NDD caregivers. The proven efficacy of accessible digital formats suggests a critical avenue for democratizing mental health support for this vulnerable population.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |