Meditating Mothers And Fathers: Long-Term Meditators' Perceptions Of The Influences Of Mindfulness On Parenting

Abstract

While there is a growing body of research to expand our theoretical and conceptual understanding of the multi-faceted construct mindfulness, the majority of studies have thus far focused on the efficacy of short-term mindfulness-based interventions to mitigate symptoms associated with myriad physiological and psychological conditions. Research investigating the relational effects of mindfulness within families is limited. This qualitative study examined eight long-term meditators' perceptions of how their mindfulness practice influenced their parenting behavior. Using thematic analysis, the central themes to emerge included (1) increased communication skills, (2) decreased emotional reactivity, (3) increased perspective-taking, and (4) greater self-understanding. Limitations of the study as well as future research and clinical implications are also discussed.