Review
Integrative Review of the Relationship Between Mindfulness-Based Parenting Interventions and Depression Symptoms in Parents

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Abstract

Objective

To synthesize the research findings about the relationship between mindfulness-based parenting interventions and symptoms of depression in parents.

Data Sources

The terms mindfulness, parent or mother, and depression were used to search PubMed, the Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, and PsychInfo/OVID databases. A limitation was not set for date of publication.

Study Selection

The database searches resulted in 198 articles for abstract review, 7 of which remained after the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three randomized controlled trials and four descriptive studies were included in the review. Three studies included mothers as the only participants; the other studies included a small to moderate percentage of fathers.

Data Extraction

Studies were reviewed for findings relevant to the relationship between mindfulness-based parenting interventions and symptoms of depression in parents according to their respective research designs.

Data Synthesis

Analysis of the randomized controlled trials showed that mindfulness-based parenting interventions had significant positive treatment effects on symptoms of depression. Analysis of the descriptive studies showed significant inverse associations between mindfulness and depression scores. Although findings were consistent across the studies, the studies varied significantly in participant characteristics, intervention frequency and duration, and measurement tools.

Conclusion

Further research is recommended with regard to the use of mindfulness-based parenting interventions to influence symptoms of depression in diverse populations. Samples of parents with culturally, economically, or racially diverse backgrounds have not been well-studied in relation to mindfulness-based parenting. Consistent use of frameworks, intervention types, and measurement tools across studies will strengthen the body of evidence.

Section snippets

Data Sources

The process outlined by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) was used to answer the research questions and organize the results. Published research studies in which researchers addressed MBP interventions and symptoms of depression in parents were identified, and their findings were synthesized according to their respective research designs. The terms mindfulness, parent or mother, and depression were used to search PubMed, the Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus,

Description of Published Studies

The publication dates of the seven studies ranged from 2008 to 2016; the three RCTs were published since 2012. The studies varied in terms of sample composition, frequency and duration of application of MBP intervention, and measures of mindfulness and symptoms of depression. Six of the studies were completed in the United States (Benn et al., 2012, Dykens et al., 2014, Neece, 2014, Parent et al., 2011) and the United Kingdom (Jones et al., 2014, Lloyd and Hastings, 2008), and one study was

Discussion

Results of this integrative review included the significant positive treatment effects of MBP interventions on symptoms of depression among parents in the three RCTs. Significant associations between increased mindfulness and decreased symptoms of depression were also present in the four cross-sectional descriptive studies. Most notably, depression scores were lower in parents who had greater mindfulness scores. Parents who suffered from symptoms of depression found relief in the cultivation of

Acknowledgment

The author acknowledges Dr. Rebecca Kronk and Dr. Joan Lockhart, Duquesne University, for their guidance in preparing this article.

Karen Alexander, MSN, RN, is an instructor in the College of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.

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      However, the review uncovered a smaller and more focused meta-analysis of the romantic relationship correlates of mindfulness (McGill, Adler-Baeder, & Rodriguez, 2016) and 9 of its 10 papers were contained within the 174 records of the current review. Similarly, a number of smaller reviews focused on the benefits of mindfulness-based parenting interventions demonstrated small amounts of overlap with the current review (4 of the 7 articles in Alexander, 2018 overlapped; 3 of the 25 articles in Burgdorf, Szabo, & Abbott, 2019; 1 of the 17 articles in Taylor, Cavanaugh, & Strauss, 2016). Finally, a number of reviews of mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions failed to demonstrate any overlap with the current review (i.e., no overlap with the 10 articles in Cachia, Anderson, & Moore, 2016; the 22 articles of Friedmutter, 2015; the 24 articles in Harnett & Dawe, 2012; the 7 articles in Hwang & Kearney, 2014; the 11 articles in Stephenson, 2017; the 7 articles in Townshend, Jordan, Stephenson, & Tsey, 2016; or the 4 articles in Whittingham, 2014).

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    Karen Alexander, MSN, RN, is an instructor in the College of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.

    The author reports no conflict of interest or relevant financial relationships.

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