Family Based Mindfulness Intervention
Family Based Mindfulness Intervention
The goal of the proposed interdisciplinary study is to assess feasibility of recruiting a
 pilot sample of parents of toddlers and engaging them in a pilot study to test a version of
 mindfulness-based intervention for parenting stress reduction (PMH), an empirically-supported
 stress-reduction intervention, plus nutrition and physical activity counseling for parents of
 preschoolers (aged 2-5); to reduce parent (and child) stress levels; improve parenting;
 promote healthy eating and physical activity in parent and child; and prevent overweight and
 obesity in preschoolers with an obese parent.
This project was a preliminary feasibility and pilot efficacy study to assess stressed low
 income parents of toddlers who were obese to assess whether a mindfulness based parenting
 intervention (PMH) can reduce their stress, increase parenting and improve family healthy
 food and physical activity choices. Parents and toddlers also participated in a Toy Wait
 Task, a behavioral assay of parenting.The empirically-supported stress-reduction
 intervention, plus nutrition and physical activity counseling (Control) for parents of
 preschoolers (aged 2-5) was compared to a nutrition and physical activity counseling alone
 condition to assess whether PMH improved toddler weight, physical activity and parent emotion
 regulation and healthy eating.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Between ages 18-70 years;

 2. Able to read and write (parent)

 3. Family with a child between 2-5 years old

 4. BMI of parent in obese category

 5. High parenting stress (mean score of >=3 on 3 questions from Parenting Stress Index)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Any psychotic disorder or current psychiatric symptoms for child or parent requiring
 specific attention, including active symptoms of psychosis or suicidal/homicidal
 ideation

 2. Diagnosis of mental retardation, autism or other pervasive developmental disorder for
 child

 3. Inability to give informed consent

 4. Current serious medical disorder precluding participation in physical activity