The effectiveness of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme for parents of children with attention
Tsui Yuk Law1,2, Daniel Bressington3, Jiayin Ruan1
1School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, China.
Insights
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) effectively reduced parental stress in Chinese parents of children with ADHD. This pilot study demonstrated MBSR
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Parental stress is high in parents of children with ADHD, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is explored for its effectiveness in this population.
- Cultural adaptation is considered for Chinese parents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effectiveness of an MBSR program for reducing parental stress in Chinese parents of children with ADHD.
- To assess the feasibility and acceptability of MBSR in this demographic during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Pilot randomized controlled trial with single-blind repeated measures.
- Recruitment of parents with children aged 3-12 diagnosed with ADHD.
- Random assignment to MBSR intervention (n=18) or usual care (n=18).
Main Results:
- 100% completion rate and high satisfaction (66%) in the MBSR group.
- Significant reduction in self-perceived stress (p<0.001) and parental stress (p<0.001) in the MBSR group compared to usual care.
- Sustained stress reduction observed one month post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- MBSR is feasible and acceptable for Chinese parents of children with ADHD.
- The MBSR program effectively reduces parental stress and enhances mental well-being.
- Further research is warranted to explore long-term effects and broader implementation.
Background:
Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience high levels of parental stress. This has exacerbated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme in the Chinese population, which is feasible among Chinese parents during the COVID-19 pandemic period in reducing the parental stress of parents compared with the usual care group.
Methods:
This study was designed as a pilot randomized controlled trial with single-blind repeated measures. Parents of children aged 3-12 years with a diagnosis of ADHD were recruited from the parent resource center (PRC) of a local nongovernmental organization between June and August 2022. The participants were randomly assigned to the MBSR intervention group (n = 18) or usual care group (n = 18).
Results:
With respect to the feasibility of the study, all 36 participants who were randomized fully completed the MBSR programme and assessments, resulting in a 100% attendance rate. 66% of the participants in the intervention group reported satisfaction with the intervention, which was helpful in reducing stress. They were willing to stay on this mindfulness-based programme in the future. The results of the repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant difference in self-perceived stress reduction between the groups (p < 0.001, ES = 0.192). The of within-group results revealed that the mean score of the intervention group decreased from 29.44 before the intervention to 25.50 (p < 0.001) immediately after intervention, and further decreased to 24.72 (p < 0.05) at one month after the intervention. By using the parental stress scale, the interaction effects also revealed significant differences between groups (p < 0.001, ES = 0.599). The stress level of the intervention group decreased from 74.50 before intervention, to 68.94 (p < 0.001) immediately after intervention, and further decreased to 67.50 (p < 0.05) at one month after intervention. These reports revealed statistically significant improvements in stress reduction and parental stress reduction in the intervention group.
Conclusion:
The pilot study revealed that MBSR is feasible and acceptable for parents of children with ADHD in Chinese culture. The findings also suggested that the MBSR programme was effective in reducing parental stress and enhancing mental well-being. This study was registered in the National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information Clinical Trials Registry as Version 1, and the trial registration data are available as NCT06210113, 28/2/2024.
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