Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Parents
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Parents (MBCT-P) aims to help parents with depression symptoms and prevent depressive relapse through mindfulness practices. MBCT-P is designed to teach parents how to become aware of and manage their thoughts, feelings, and body sensations.
Instructors educate parents on the basics of mindfulness and guided mindfulness practices such as body scan (i.e., directing attention to each part of the body), meditation, breathing exercises, and mindful movement (e.g., intentional stretching, walking, or yoga). Parents learn how to use mindfulness to manage mood shifts, prevent negative thinking, and develop an action plan to address their unique signs of depression. Instructors teach mindful parenting techniques to help parents manage routine and difficult situations with their child. Parents complete home-based mindfulness practices to reinforce mindfulness and mindful parenting techniques in daily life. Instructors tailor psychoeducation, cognitive exercises, and mindfulness practices to apply to the parenting context.
MBCT-P is rated as a supported practice because at least one study carried out in a usual care or practice setting achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution and demonstrated a sustained favorable effect of at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment on at least one target outcome.
Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: May 2022
Sources
The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, and the studies reviewed.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook.
Target Population
MBCT-P is designed to help parents of children ages 2–12 with parental depression symptoms.
Dosage
MBCT-P is delivered over 8 weeks. Instructors lead 2-hour group sessions once per week. Group sessions typically include fewer than 12 parents. In between group sessions, parents also are encouraged to complete mindfulness practices at home 6 days per week.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
MBCT-P can be delivered in a clinic, hospital, or community-based setting.
Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research
- Mental Health Center, Treatment Center, Therapist Office
Education, Certifications and Training
Instructors should have accredited training in counseling or psychotherapy or should be a mental health professional with experience treating mood disorders. Instructors should also have experience with behavioral or cognitive therapy or an understanding of depression that is grounded in cognitive theory. It is recommended that instructors have at least 1 year of personal experience with formal mindfulness practice and have previously participated in the 8-week MBCT program themselves.
Formal MBCT instructor training is available and recommended, but not required. This training involves a minimum of 5 days of instruction in MBCT principles and how to deliver MBCT. Ongoing supervision with an experienced MBCT instructor is also recommended.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
Mann, J., Kuyken, W., & Evans, A. (2011). MBCT for parents with a history of depression (MBCT-P) manual. Oxford Mindfulness Centre.
Available languages
The MBCT-P manual is available in English.
For More Information
Website: https://www.oxfordmindfulness.org/about-us/research/mbct-manuals/
Email: admin@oxfordmindfulness.org
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Parents |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 1 |
| Eligible for Review | 1 |
| Rated High | 1 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 0 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
| Outcome | Effect Size
 and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning |
0.28
11 |
1 (1) | 33 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 1 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver mental or emotional health |
0.48
18 |
1 (4) | 33 |
Favorable:
2 No Effect: 2 Unfavorable: 0 |
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group.
| Outcome | Effect Size
and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
Months after treatment when outcome measured
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning |
0.28
11 |
1 (1) | 33 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 1 Unfavorable: 0 |
- |
| Study 11560 - MBCT-P vs. Usual Care (Mann, 2016) | |||||
| Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: Total Difficulties |
0.28
11 |
- | 33 | - | 6 |
| Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver mental or emotional health |
0.48
18 |
1 (4) | 33 |
Favorable:
2 No Effect: 2 Unfavorable: 0 |
- |
| Study 11560 - MBCT-P vs. Usual Care (Mann, 2016) | |||||
| Beck Depression Inventory – 2 |
-0.12
-4 |
- | 32 | - | 1 |
| Beck Depression Inventory – 2 |
0.83
*
29 |
- | 33 | - | 6 |
| Parenting Stress Index – Short Form |
0.40
15 |
- | 31 | - | 6 |
| Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire |
0.82
*
29 |
- | 33 | - | 6 |
*p <.05
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Section 5.10.4 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications.
Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.
Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.
The participant characteristics display is an initial version. We encourage those interested in providing feedback to send suggestions to preventionservices@abtassoc.com.
The table below displays locations, the year, and participant demographics for studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Participant characteristics for studies with more than one intervention versus comparison group pair that received moderate or high ratings are shown separately in the table. Please note, the information presented here uses terminology directly from the study documents, when available. Studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution that did not include relevant participant demographic information would not be represented in this table.
For more information on how Clearinghouse reviewers record the information in the table, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
| Characteristics of the Participants in the Studies with Moderate or High Ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Study Location
|
Study Year
|
Age or Grade-level
|
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
|
Gender
|
Populations of Interest*
|
Household Socioeconomic Status
|
| Study 11560 - MBCT-P vs. Usual Care | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Children and Youth | ||||||
| United Kingdom | 2012 | Mean Age: 4 years; Age Range 2-6 years | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers | ||||||
| United Kingdom | 2012 | Mean Age: 36; Age Range: 27-48 years | 97% White | 95% Female |
100% Parents of children between 2 and 6 years old; 100% Previously experienced three or more episodes of depression and currently in full or partial remission from depression based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV |
-- |
“--” indicates information not reported in the study.
* The information about disabilities is based on initial coding. For more information on how the Clearinghouse recorded disability information for the initial release, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings. The Clearinghouse is currently seeking consultation from experts, including those with lived experience, and input from the public to enhance and improve the display.
Note: Citations for the documents associated with each 5-digit study number shown in the table can be found in the “Studies Reviewed” section below. Study settings and participant demographics are recorded for all studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Studies that did not report any information about setting or participant demographics are not displayed. For more information on how participant characteristics are recorded, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Studies Rated High
Study 11560Mann, J., Kuyken, W., O'Mahen, H., Ukoumunne, O. C., Evans, A., & Ford, T. (2016). Manual development and pilot randomised controlled trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus usual care for parents with a history of depression. Mindfulness, 7(5), 1024-1033. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0543-7
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Section 6.2.2)