Family Based Mindfulness Intervention

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

• Between ages 18-70 years;
• Able to read and write (parent)
• Family with a child between 2-5 years old
• BMI of parent in obese category
• High parenting stress (mean score of >=3 on 3 questions from Parenting Stress Index)

Exclusion criteria

• Any psychotic disorder or current psychiatric symptoms for child or parent requiring specific attention, including active symptoms of psychosis or suicidal/homicidal ideation
• Diagnosis of mental retardation, autism or other pervasive developmental disorder for child
• Inability to give informed consent
• Current serious medical disorder precluding participation in physical activity