Applying Mindfulness for Economically Disadvantaged Families

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a family-based mindfulness intervention (FBMI) in reducing parental stress and promoting child adjustment. Intervention effectiveness will be tested by conducting a randomized controlled trial comparing a group receiving FBMI to a wait-list control group. Children aged five and their parents will be recruited to participate in the study. Eligible families will be recruited, stratified by level of economically disadvantage, behaviour problem scores, and parental stress, and then randomly assigned to the two groups. Intervention groups will be conducted by instructors with professional training. Children in the intervention group are expected to show improvements in cognitive and language development, behaviour problems, attention and emotional/behavior regulation, and physiological stress (reduced cortisol and heart rate variability), compared with the waitlist control group. Parents are expected to show improvements in physiological and psychological stress, and mindfulness, compared with the waitlist control group.