US Parents’ Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional Survey

BackgroundMindfulness practices are associated with improved health and well-being for children. Few studies have assessed parents’ acceptance of learning about mindfulness practices. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess parents’ beliefs and interest in learning abo...

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Main Authors: Mala Mathur, Bradley R Kerr, Jessica C Babal, Jens C Eickhoff, Ryan J Coller, Megan A Moreno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2021-11-01
Series:JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Online Access:https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/4/e30242
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author Mala Mathur
Bradley R Kerr
Jessica C Babal
Jens C Eickhoff
Ryan J Coller
Megan A Moreno
author_facet Mala Mathur
Bradley R Kerr
Jessica C Babal
Jens C Eickhoff
Ryan J Coller
Megan A Moreno
author_sort Mala Mathur
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundMindfulness practices are associated with improved health and well-being for children. Few studies have assessed parents’ acceptance of learning about mindfulness practices. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess parents’ beliefs and interest in learning about mindfulness, including from their health care provider, and differences across demographic backgrounds. MethodsWe conducted a national cross-sectional survey of parents with children aged 0-18 years in October 2018. Measures included beliefs and interest in learning about mindfulness. These measures were compared across demographic backgrounds using chi-square analysis. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to perform adjusted comparisons between demographic backgrounds. ResultsParticipants (N=3000) were 87% (n=2621) female and 82.5% (n=2466) Caucasian. Most (n=1913, 64.2%) reported beliefs that mindfulness can be beneficial when parenting, 56.4% (n=1595) showed interest in learning about mindfulness to help their child stay healthy, and 40.8% (n=1214) reported interest in learning about mindfulness from their health care provider. Parents with a college degree 49.6% (n=444) were more likely to report interest in learning about mindfulness from a health care provider compared to those without 37.1% (n=768; P<.001). Parents interested in learning about mindfulness were more likely to be male 62.6% (n=223; P<.001). There was no significant difference in interest in learning about mindfulness from a health care provider based on race. ConclusionsThis study indicates that many parents believe mindfulness can be beneficial while parenting and are interested in learning how mindfulness could help their child stay healthy. Findings suggest there is an opportunity to educate families about mindfulness practices.
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spelling doaj.art-34650969fb4849b9973fd29d2393c30c2023-08-28T19:43:15ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Pediatrics and Parenting2561-67222021-11-0144e3024210.2196/30242US Parents’ Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional SurveyMala Mathurhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7151-3637Bradley R Kerrhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1336-786XJessica C Babalhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5964-3700Jens C Eickhoffhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0525-6462Ryan J Collerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2657-294XMegan A Morenohttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2767-0787 BackgroundMindfulness practices are associated with improved health and well-being for children. Few studies have assessed parents’ acceptance of learning about mindfulness practices. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess parents’ beliefs and interest in learning about mindfulness, including from their health care provider, and differences across demographic backgrounds. MethodsWe conducted a national cross-sectional survey of parents with children aged 0-18 years in October 2018. Measures included beliefs and interest in learning about mindfulness. These measures were compared across demographic backgrounds using chi-square analysis. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to perform adjusted comparisons between demographic backgrounds. ResultsParticipants (N=3000) were 87% (n=2621) female and 82.5% (n=2466) Caucasian. Most (n=1913, 64.2%) reported beliefs that mindfulness can be beneficial when parenting, 56.4% (n=1595) showed interest in learning about mindfulness to help their child stay healthy, and 40.8% (n=1214) reported interest in learning about mindfulness from their health care provider. Parents with a college degree 49.6% (n=444) were more likely to report interest in learning about mindfulness from a health care provider compared to those without 37.1% (n=768; P<.001). Parents interested in learning about mindfulness were more likely to be male 62.6% (n=223; P<.001). There was no significant difference in interest in learning about mindfulness from a health care provider based on race. ConclusionsThis study indicates that many parents believe mindfulness can be beneficial while parenting and are interested in learning how mindfulness could help their child stay healthy. Findings suggest there is an opportunity to educate families about mindfulness practices.https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/4/e30242
spellingShingle Mala Mathur
Bradley R Kerr
Jessica C Babal
Jens C Eickhoff
Ryan J Coller
Megan A Moreno
US Parents’ Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional Survey
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
title US Parents’ Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional Survey
title_full US Parents’ Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional Survey
title_fullStr US Parents’ Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional Survey
title_full_unstemmed US Parents’ Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional Survey
title_short US Parents’ Acceptance of Learning About Mindfulness Practices for Parents and Children: National Cross-sectional Survey
title_sort us parents acceptance of learning about mindfulness practices for parents and children national cross sectional survey
url https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/4/e30242
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