Randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of mindful parenting and parent management training.

OBJECTIVE

Parenting Management Training (PMT) has long been a widely adopted intervention. In recent years, Mindful Parenting (MP) programs have attracted considerable attention and emerged as promising alternatives in parenting interventions. This study evaluated the effectiveness of MP and PMT as preventive interventions.

METHOD: In a randomized controlled trial, 189 parents (Mean age = 41.1; 177 mothers and 12 fathers) of primary school children were randomly assigned to MP, PMT, or a waitlist-control group. They were recruited from the general population through schools and online platforms. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Both MP and PMT improved parenting practices, parents' mental health, parent-child relationships, parental mindfulness, and reduced child behavioral problems, when compared to a waitlist control group. PMT increased parenting knowledge and yielded broad changes in parenting practices, whereas MP resulted in sustained improvements in parental emotional competence. Effect sizes ranged from small to moderate across outcomes. Qualitative findings also indicated that MP changed parental attitudes and brought benefits to other life domains beyond the parent-child context.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the application of MP and PMT programs as preventive interventions, each with distinct strengths. The study also highlights directions for future research on parenting interventions.