Benefits of Mindfulness for Parenting in Mothers of Preschoolers in Chile
Frontiers in Psychology August 17, 2018 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01443 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental comparison group study with repeated measures Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 43 |
| Population | Mothers of preschool-age children who worked at the Universidad Católica de Chile and whose children attended university preschool centers |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Duration | Two-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 37 |
| Key findings | The mindfulness-based intervention was associated with significant reductions in general and parental stress and increases in mindful parenting and general mindfulness compared with the comparison group. Effect sizes ranged from small to medium, with the largest effects on stress and mindful parenting, and effects were maintained at two-month follow-up. |
Abstract
The present study evaluated whether mothers’ participation in a mindfulness-based intervention led to statistically significant differences in their general levels of stress, depression, anxiety, parental stress, mindful parenting and mindfulness. Forty-three mothers of preschool-age children participated, 21 in the intervention group and 22 in the comparison group. Scores of mental health variables were within normal ranges before the intervention. All of the participants worked at the Universidad Católica de Chile (Catholic University of Chile), and their children attended university preschool centers. Repeated measured ANOVA analysis were performed considering differences between gain scores of each group, rather than post-treatment group differences. This was chosen in order to approach initial differences in some of the measures (mindfulness, mindful parenting and stress) probably due to self-selection. As predicted, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in general and parental stress and an increase in mindful parenting and general mindfulness variables when compared with the comparison group. Effect sizes ranged from small to medium, with the highest Cohen’s d in stress (general and parental) and mindful parenting. In most cases the significant change was observed between pre- and post-test measures. Follow-up measures indicated that the effects were maintained after two months.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Reducing parenting stress among Muslim mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic through spiritual mindfulness training Humanitas Indonesian Psychological Journal August 28, 2023
- A brief mindfulness- and compassion-based parenting programme delivered via instant messaging: Results and implications from two randomised controlled trials on reducing parental stress. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being December 1, 2025
- Mindful parenting-A thematic exploration of narratives from Indian mothers. Frontiers in Global Women's Health 2022
- The Effect of Mindfulness Interventions for Parents on Parenting Stress and Youth Psychological Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Frontiers in Psychology June 6, 2019
Cites 14
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
and 9 more in the library