The effects of an online mindfulness-based intervention for parents of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Zoe Jiwen Zhang, Herman Hay Ming Lo, Rebecca Y. M. Cheung, Qirong Chen, Wing-Tung Yeung, Stanley Kam Chung Chan, Alma M L Au, Elisabeth Wai Yin Wong, Eric Kam-Pui Lee, Doris Mei Sum Woo, Susan M. Bögels, Elsa Ngar Sze Lau, Siu-Man Ng
Journal of Affective Disorders October 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.122646 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 248 |
| Population | Parents of children aged 6 to 12 years with ADHD symptoms |
| Intervention | Online mindfulness-based intervention |
| Duration | Assessments before the intervention, after the intervention, and at 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Parents Randomized controlled trial Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Online Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Key findings | Both the online mindfulness-based intervention and the online psychoeducation program produced significant and lasting improvements in children's ADHD symptoms, executive functioning, and parental well-being, and both reduced parental stress and two dimensions of expressed emotion. The mindfulness program showed a specific benefit for insomnia. A small improvement in parent-child relationship quality was seen in the repeated-measures ANOVA but was not consistently supported by sensitivity analysis. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been identified as a complementary treatment for children with ADHD. While there is a growing interest in developing MBIs in online formats, its application in parents is largely based on healthy populations. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to investigate the effectiveness of an online MBI (arm 1) compared with an online psychoeducation (PSY) program (arm 2). Outcomes were measured before the intervention, after the intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. A total of 248 parents whose children with ADHD symptoms aged 6 to 12 years old participated in the study, with 131 parents assigned to the online MBI group and 117 to the PSY group. Both groups indicated significant and lasting improvements in their children's ADHD symptoms, executive functioning, and parental well-being. In addition, parental stress levels and two dimensions of expressed emotion, including critical comments and initial statements, decreased significantly in both groups. Notably, a specific benefit of the online MBI was identified for insomnia. A small-magnitude improvement in parent-child relationship quality, as a dimension of expressed emotion, was observed in the repeated measures ANOVA but was not consistently supported by the sensitivity analysis. Future studies should verify the specific and sustainable treatment effects of MBIs, strengthening parental engagement and support.
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 19
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Efficacy and Moderation of Mobile App–Based Programs for Mindfulness-Based Training, Self-Compassion Training, and Cognitive Behavioral Psychoeducation on Mental Health: Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial JMIR Mental Health July 29, 2018
- Experiences of Using Digital Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Rapid Scoping Review and Thematic Synthesis. Journal of Medical Internet Research September 28, 2023
- Pilot randomized controlled trial of MINDful TIME, a novel telehealth mindfulness-based intervention for autistic adolescents and their caregivers. Autism July 1, 2025
- The effectiveness of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme for parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a pilot randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychology April 24, 2025
and 14 more in the library