Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Parents: A Systematic Review of Target Groups, Effects, and Intervention Features

Abstract

Objectives: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown effectiveness in promoting parents’ and children’s well-being. The development of MBIs for parents has been growing worldwide, but varied curricula and overlapping contexts make it hard to grasp their core features. The aim of this study was to synthesize and summarize the target groups, effects, dissemination, format, and content features of MBIs for parents. Method: A literature search for peer-reviewed articles published before December 2023 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science following PRISMA guidelines. A quality appraisal was conducted for each included study. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of MBIs for parents were included. Results: After the eligibility assessment, 20 RCTs were identified. Most studies included only mothers and non-clinical target groups for both parents and children. Most of the interventions were derived from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Several interventions demonstrated some evidence of effectiveness in reducing parenting stress. The majority of the interventions were delivered in a face-to-face format, and the length varied between four and nine sessions. Activities most commonly used were psychoeducation, group discussion, imagination exercises, and mindful parenting exercises. Conclusions: The interventions included a variety of types of dissemination, format, and content, and various curricula applied to the same target groups. Mapping the target groups and the intervention features can help to develop more homogeneous and effective interventions that can be applied to other target groups for which MBIs have not yet been developed or adapted. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered.