Mindfulness-Informed Parenting Interventions for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Atypical Development: A Scoping Review
Siti Inarah Hasim, Jamilah Hanum Abdul Khaiyom, Mardiana Mohamad, Zunaidah Mohd Marzuki, Jamiah Manap, Nellie Binti Ismail, Nor Hayati Kasim
Intellectual Discourse April 30, 2026 DOI: 10.31436/id.v34i2.2274 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Parents and caregivers of children with atypical development |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Across 49 studies, mindfulness-informed parenting interventions for caregivers of children with atypical development were most often hybrid mindfulness-informed or mindful parenting programmes, and evidence was concentrated in North America and Europe. Parent outcomes were more consistently positive than child outcomes, but the literature was methodologically heterogeneous and only one study explicitly integrated spirituality or religiosity. |
Abstract
Parents and caregivers of children with atypical development often experience high levels of stress and reduced well-being. This scoping review mapped the literature on mindfulness-informed parenting interventions for this population, focusing on intervention types, methodological features, outcomes, and the integration of spirituality and religiosity. Reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR, a comprehensive search of Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and MyCite, with updated search alerts, identified 49 eligible studies. The evidence based was concentrated in North America and Europe, and hybrid mindfulness-informed interventions and mindful parenting programmes were the most common. Parent outcomes were more consistently positive than child outcomes, but the literature remained methodologically heterogeneous, and only one study explicitly integrated spirituality or religiosity. Future research should prioritise more rigorous and culturally responsive intervention development.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- A Model of Mindful Parenting: Implications for Parent–Child Relationships and Prevention Research Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review May 2, 2009
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Journal of Child and Family Studies February 1, 2011
- Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins, and multiple applications at the intersection of science and dharma Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Behavioral Problems and Attentional Functioning in Adolescents with ADHD Journal of Child and Family Studies September 21, 2011
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Delays: Implications for Parental Mental Health and Child Behavior Problems Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities July 1, 2013
and 10 more in the library