Is Mindful Parenting Associated with Adolescents' Well-being in Early and Middle/Late Adolescence? The Mediating Role of Adolescents' Attachment Representations, Self-Compassion and Mindfulness.
Helena Moreira, Maria João Gouveia, Maria Cristina Canavarro
Journal of Youth and Adolescence February 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-018-0808-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 563 |
| Population | Parent-child dyads (95.6% mothers) with adolescents (61.5% girls) aged 12-20 years (mean 14.26, SD 1.66) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Adolescent development Empathy Parent-child relations Parents Mothers Child welfare Female Adolescence Well-being Mindful parenting Self-compassion Attachment representations |
| Key findings | Mindful parenting was indirectly associated with adolescents' well-being through perceived attachment security, self-compassion, and mindfulness; it was also indirectly associated with self-compassion and mindfulness through more secure parent-child attachment representations. The model was invariant across adolescent stages but some paths differed by gender. |
Abstract
There is some evidence that mindful parenting, a parenting approach that involves the practice of bringing mindful awareness to the parent-child relationship, is associated with several positive psychosocial outcomes in adolescents. However, only a few studies have investigated the mechanisms that may underlie that association. This study explores whether the link between mindful parenting and adolescents' well-being is mediated by adolescents' attachment representations, self-compassion and mindfulness skills. The sample comprised 563 parent-child dyads (95.6% mothers). Adolescents (61.5% girls) had a mean age of 14.26 years (SD = 1.66, range = 12-20). Parents completed a measure of mindful parenting, and adolescents completed measures of attachment representations, self-compassion, mindfulness, and well-being. Mindful parenting was indirectly associated with adolescents' self-compassion and mindfulness through a more secure perception of the relationship with the parents, and was indirectly associated with adolescents' well-being through perceived attachment security, self-compassion and mindfulness. The path model was invariant across stages of adolescence but some relations in the model varied across gender. Self-compassion and mindfulness seem to develop within a parent-child relationship characterized by affection, self-regulation, and mindful awareness. These two resources, along with mindful parenting and positive representations of the parent-child relationship, are associated with adolescents' well-being.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Perspectives of Maternal Mindful Parenting: Development and Initial Validation of the Mindful Parenting Inventories for Parents (MPIP) and Children (MPIC) Mindfulness January 30, 2023
- A multiple methods pilot study of the Mindfulness and Self‐Compassion for Children and Caregivers course Family Relations July 6, 2026
- The Role of Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence on Adolescents' Well-Being and Secondary School Achievement. Psychological Reports November 18, 2024
- Does the association between mindful parenting and adolescents' dispositional mindfulness depend on the levels of anxiety and depression symptomatology in mothers? Journal des adolescens July 13, 2018
Cites 5
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- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- A Model of Mindful Parenting: Implications for Parent–Child Relationships and Prevention Research Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review May 2, 2009
- Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). Psychological Assessment April 11, 2011
- The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale for Adolescents (MAAS-A): Psychometric Properties in a Dutch Sample. Mindfulness September 2011