Mindfulness, parental stress and child behaviour in neurodisability
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Relationships between mindfulness, self-compassion, parental stress, wellbeing and child behaviour in neurodisability
IRAS ID
223605
Contact name
Melissa Clapp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tics/Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) and Intellectual Disability (ID) report greater levels of stress and child behaviour problems compared to parents of children without disabilities.
Higher levels of mindfulness (i.e. bringing non-judgemental attention to present moment day-to-day experience) and mindful parenting (i.e. mindfulness applied to situations involving parent and child interaction) are related to lower levels of stress in parents of children without disabilities. Furthermore, higher levels of self-compassion have also been related to lower levels of child behaviour problems in parents of children without disabilities.
One study has shown that mindfulness levels are also related to lower levels of parental stress and child behaviour in parents of children with ASD. However, no studies have explored these relationships in parents of children with different neurodevelopmental disorders or those with more than one neurodevelopmental disorder. This study will be the first to explore the relationships between mindfulness, self-compassion, parental stress, wellbeing and child behaviour in parents of children with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Further research is needed to better understand which aspects of mindfulness and mindful parenting relate to parental stress, wellbeing and child behaviour. This will help to develop mindful parenting programmes for parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.To date, only one study has explored relationships between aspects of mindful parenting, parental stress and child behaviour, in parents of children with ASD (Beer, Ward & Moar, 2013). However, no studies have explored these relationships in parents of children with ADHD, Tourette’s or those with more than one neurodevelopmental disorder. The proposed study will explore relationships between aspects of mindfulness, aspects of mindful parenting, self-compassion, parental stress, wellbeing and child behaviour, in parents of children with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0189
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion