Abstract
Objectives
The study of mindfulness has expanded in recent decades; however, there is still limited published research on the relationship between mindfulness and parenting. Further, scarce previous research considered individual characteristics as moderators of links between mindfulness and parenting outcomes. Although distinct elements of mindfulness can be measured, most research treats mindfulness as a global construct. The current study draws from family stress and resilience theory to examine the relationship between three facets of mindfulness and parenting stress and efficacy. Further, we consider the influence of parent gender and age of the youngest child on these relationships.
Methods
Multi-level regression models were utilized in a diverse sample of 1007 parents (M age = 36.07; Range = 19–70).
Results
Nonreactivity of inner experience was most predictive of parenting efficacy compared to acting with awareness, whereas awareness was most predictive of lower parenting stress compared to nonreactivity. Nonjudging of inner experience was not directly related to parenting efficacy or parenting stress considering other facets of mindfulness. The link between nonjudging and parenting efficacy was stronger for fathers than mothers. The positive link between nonreactivity and parenting efficacy was stronger for parents of older children and the negative link between levels of nonreactivity and parenting stress was stronger for parents of young children.
Conclusions
Although each facet is related in some way to parenting outcomes, certain areas of mindfulness may be particularly important to emphasize in mindfulness-based parenting education programs. Further, these priority facets may differ slightly based on parent and child characteristics.
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Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant: # 90FM0082.
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L.K.B. designed this specific study, assisted with the data analysis, and collaborated on writing the paper; J.M. analyzed the data and collaborated on writing the paper; F.A.B. designed and executed the efficacy study that provided these data, and collaborated in the editing of the final manuscript.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Auburn University’s IRB approved the study procedures and participants were provided informed consent letters before data collection occurred.
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Burke, L.K., McGill, J. & Adler-Baeder, F. Exploring the Links between Facets of Mindfulness and Parenting Efficacy and Stress. J Child Fam Stud 29, 1679–1691 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01692-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01692-2