Mindfulness and parenting distress among parents of children with disabilities: A literature review

PurposeThe purpose of this review was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for management of parenting distress in parents of children with disabilities. DesignA narrative review was conducted. A search protocol was conducted using Google Scholar, EBSCO, Pubmed, CINAHL, Ovid, and PsycINFO databases up to September 1, 2016. ResultsInterventions used a variety of approaches to implement mindfulness training, including MBIs and combined mindfulness and other interventions. Targeted outcomes included in this review were parenting stress and psychological distress. Most of the reviewed papers reported positive role of MBIs to manage parenting distress. ConclusionThe results of this first review on the topic provide preliminary support for the efficacy of MBIs for supporting parents of children with disabilities.