Mindful Parenting Intervention for Parents of Adolescents with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Hong Chen, Ziyu Wang, Yuyu Gu, Congwen Yang, Hui Xiang
Preprints.org October 12, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.20944/preprints202610.1009.v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled trial with waitlist comparison group |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 41 |
| Population | Parents of adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury and the adolescents themselves, from 41 families |
| Intervention | Mindful parenting intervention |
| Key findings | Compared with a waitlisted group, adolescents with NSSI whose parents received a mindful parenting intervention showed significant reductions in impulsivity, depression, and anxiety, and their parents showed significant reductions in depression and anxiety and increased mindful parenting scores. Within the intervention group, adolescents improved in depression and anxiety and parents improved in depression and mindful parenting from pre- to post-intervention. |
Abstract
The study aimed to examine the effect of a mindful parenting intervention on parents of adolescents exhibiting non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Families meeting the specified criteria voluntarily participated, resulting in 23 families in the intervention group and 18 families in the waitlisted treatment group. Both groups were carefully matched in demographic variables. Only the parents in the intervention group received mindfulness parenting intervention, while other participants did not receive any intervention. Prior to and following the intervention, parents and adolescents with NSSI in both groups underwent assessments using a series of scales. Compared to the waitlisted treatment group, adolescents with NSSI in the intervention group exhibited significant reductions in impulsivity, depression, and anxiety scores following the intervention, parents in the intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in depression and anxiety scores, along with a notable increase in mindful parenting scores after the intervention. Additionally, adolescents with NSSI in the intervention group showed significant improvements in depression and anxiety from pre- to post-intervention. Parents in the intervention group also showed improvements in depression and increases in mindful parenting levels from pre- to post-intervention. The mindful parenting intervention positively impacts both adolescents with NSSI and their parents.