A Systematic Meta-Review of Mindfulness-Based and Mindfulness-Integrated Programs with Parents and Families: Evidence from Over 25 Years of Research.
Na Zhang, Qiyue Cai, Hui Qi Tong, Larissa G Duncan, Irwin Sandler, Robert W Roeser, Yuan Lin, Liliana J. Lengua
Clinical Psychology Science and Practice July 30, 2026 DOI: 10.1037/cps0000376 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-review (systematic review of systematic reviews) Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Systematic reviews of mindfulness interventions for parents and families |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Family-based intervention Mental health Parenting Systematic review |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based programs appear promising for reducing parenting stress, but evidence is inconclusive for other parent and child outcomes. Parenting stress may mediate effects on youth outcomes, and methodological variations limit conclusions. |
Abstract
This meta-review provides a high-level perspective of the research evidence on mindfulness interventions for parents and families. It summarizes conceptual and methodological features, examines intervention approaches, intervention effects, and identifies moderators and mediators of these effects. Searches were conducted across eight databases to identify systematic reviews of mindfulness-based or mindfulness-integrated interventions with parents. Review overlap was quantified, and methodological quality was assessed. Quantitative information (e.g. sample sizes, study designs, effect sizes) and qualitative information (e.g., conceptualizations, intervention approach) were extracted. Primary studies were categorized based on intervention approach classifications. Eighteen systematic reviews, including ten meta-analyses, were identified, encompassing 119 unique primary studies. The collective evidence suggests that mindfulness-based programs are a promising approach for reducing parenting stress. In contrast, findings were inconclusive for parents' general stress, mental health, well-being, trait mindfulness, mindful parenting, parenting behaviors, and child mental health. Reviews showed acceptable methodological quality and moderate overlap in primary studies. Variations in study designs, samples, intervention approaches, dosage, and analytic methods contributed to inconclusive findings. The reviews of mindfulness-based and mindfulness-integrated programs revealed a mix of intervention approach categories and inconsistencies in conceptualizations and operationalizations. The evidence on moderators of intervention effects was inconclusive. Parenting stress appeared to be a mediator of the intervention's effects on youth outcomes. The literature offers encouraging results as well as limitations of the extant research. Future research should clarify conceptualizations of intervention approaches, investigate mediators and moderators, and improve rigor. Implications for clinicians using mindfulness with parents are also discussed.
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 |