Feasibility of using Making Mindfulness Matter© for children with epilepsy and their parents: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
Karina N Tassiopoulos, Karen Bax, Klajdi Puka, Evelyn Vingilis, Mary Secco, Andrea Andrade, Margo DeVries-Rizzo, Michelle Franklin, Hema Gangam, Simon Levin, Maryam N Nouri, Asuri N Prasad, Egidio Spinelli, Guangyong Zou, Kathy Nixon Speechley
Epilepsy & Behavior October 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.111318 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Parallel, 1:1 randomized controlled trial with mixed-methods process evaluation Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 72 |
| Population | Families of children with epilepsy aged 4-10 years in Ontario, Canada |
| Intervention | a family-based mindfulness program |
| Duration | Eight-week program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Childhood epilepsy Community-based program Family Online Process evaluation Quality of life |
| Key findings | The authors report that the online family mindfulness program was feasible: session fidelity was high (80-100% of curriculum delivered), most families attended more than 75% of sessions, and families were engaged, practiced skills weekly, and were satisfied. Time commitment was a key barrier to recruitment and retention. They propose that these findings support further evaluation in multi-centre trials. |
Abstract
Children with epilepsy (CWE) often experience poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and family environment plays a central role in how CWE cope with challenges. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of delivering a family-based mindfulness program (Making Mindfulness Matter©, M3©) synchronously online for CWE and their parents, to support families facing HRQOL-related challenges. This was a parallel, 1:1 randomized controlled trial comparing M3© to waitlist control, recruiting families of CWE aged 4-10 years in Ontario, Canada. M3© is an eight-week concurrent parent-child program teaching mindfulness skills for managing stress and building family resiliency, delivered live-online by epilepsy agency staff. Feasibility data were collected through self-administered questionnaires from parents, program facilitators, and research staff. A mixed-methods process evaluation (descriptive statistics, qualitative content analysis) examined participation rate, session attendance, attrition, missing data, quality of session delivery by facilitators, proportion of curriculum units delivered, and participant adherence and satisfaction. Of 298 dyads screened, 72 were randomized (intervention = 35, control = 37; 31 % participation). Time commitment was a key barrier to recruitment and retention. Fifteen M3© groups were completed, and 61 dyads participated. Session fidelity was high (80-100 % curriculum delivered), and most families attended > 75 % of sessions. Families were engaged, practiced skills weekly, and were satisfied with the program. M3© was delivered as intended and well-received by participating families, providing preliminary evidence supporting its feasibility as a community-based on-line treatment complementary to clinical care. Findings support further evaluation of M3© in multi-centre trials and highlight time commitment as an important consideration for future recruitment and retention strategies.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- Effects of an online mindfulness-based program for parents of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot, mixed methods study Frontiers in Psychiatry April 24, 2024
- Living With Physical Health Conditions: A Systematic Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Children, Adolescents, and Their Parents. Journal of pediatric psychology April 1, 2023
- What Are Adverse Events in Mindfulness Meditation? Global Advances in Health and Medicine 2022
- The efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder beyond core symptoms: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Journal of Affective Disorders September 1, 2021