Mindful Parenting: The Impact on Parental Stress, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Compassion

Parents face additional pressures as they deal with the challenge of their own lives as well as stressors associated with caring for their children. While some stress may serve as necessary motivation, too much stress can adversely impact one’s health, work and relationships. Research indicates that many parents have increased stress and emotional distress, as well as decreased self-efficacy and self-compassion which impacts their overall well-being and abilities as parents. With this in mind, it is essential to study healthy and effective coping strategies to combat these detrimental factors. One potential intervention that has been shown to impact parental stress and self-perception is the practice of mindfulness. The aim of this research proposal is to assess the influence of mindfulness-based interventions for parents of elementary-aged children regarding their self-reported levels of parental stress, self-efficacy, and self-compassion. This study has significant implications for improving parent-child relationships and family dynamics, as well as enhancing child emotional regulation.