Mindful Parents, Mindful Children? Exploring the Role of Mindful Parenting

SYNOPSIS Objective. Mindfulness in parents is associated with a number of positive family characteristics, including positive parenting behaviors, fewer externalizing or internalizing difficulties in children, and positive parent-child relationships. However, little is known about whether parents’ and children’s mindfulness may be linked, or whether mindful parenting may indirectly support this link. The present cross-sectional study sought to explore these associations in mothers and fathers and their preadolescent children. Design. One hundred and twelve triads consisting of mothers, fathers, and their 9- to 12-year-old children participated. Mothers and fathers rated their mindfulness and mindful parenting, and children rated their mindfulness. Results. Mothers’ mindfulness was indirectly associated with children’s mindfulness through mothers’ mindful parenting. This indirect effect was not significant for fathers, although one facet of mindfulness – nonreactivity to thoughts and feelings – led to a significant indirect association. Conclusions. Mindful parents report more mindful parenting behaviors, which in turn may relate to higher child mindfulness. Implications for the socialization of mindfulness in the family are discussed.