“I’m getting it!”: How Parents Describe Change Following Attendance at Mindfulness- Enhanced Behavioral Parent Training

Abstract

AbstractMany parents feel overwhelmed and seek professional assistance in response to their child’s behaviors. Mindfulness-enhanced parenting programs offer an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional gold standard behavioral parent training (BPT). This study explored parents’ descriptions of change following attendance at a mindfulness-enhanced behavioral parent training group program (MeBPT). Our aim was to examine how mindfulness and behavioral components are featured in parents’ change narratives. Semistructured interviews were conducted with parents (N = 9) of 3–12-year-old children, who attended the program 6 months earlier. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Identified themes were triangulated with qualitative comments fromN = 266 postgroup parent evaluations and relevant theory. Four themes characterized parents’ change narratives: noticing the struggle, being a mindful parent, trying to implement behavioral strategies, and the importance of the relationship. Parents integrated both mindfulness and behavioral principles in their change narratives, varied in which components were most highly valued, and reported mixed success in applying behavioral parenting strategies. Themes supported the construct validity of mindful parenting mechanisms and measures. Integrating mindfulness components within BPT programs appears to be valued by parents and may represent the next evolution in parenting interventions.