Mindful Moment: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Web-based Mindful and Compassionate Parenting Training

NCT ID: NCT04892082

Last Updated: 2022-11-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 292 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-04-15
• Study Completion Date: 2021-10-31

Brief Summary

Mindful Moment (a web-based mindful and compassionate parenting training) is a self-guided program for postpartum mothers, based on the Mindful Parenting Training developed by Bögels and Restifo (2014) and the Mindful with Your Baby Training (Potharst et al., 2017, 2019). The main goal of this research is to assess the feasibility (e.g., user's adherence, dropout) and acceptability of Mindful Moment and to gather preliminary evidence of its efficacy.

This pilot RCT (Randomized Controlled Trial) will be a two-arm trial. Mothers with a child aged up to 18 months old will be enrolled in the study. A minimum number of 60 mothers will be enrolled in the study. After agreeing to participate in the study, the mothers will be screened for the presence of parenting stress (PSS [Parenting Stress Scale] ≥ 41, Mixão et al., 2007). In case of 41 points score or more, mothers will be asked to complete baseline assessment. Then, mothers who completed baseline assessment will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: the intervention (Mindful Moment program) or the control condition (Waiting-List control [WLC]). The sample will be recruited online.

The feasibility of Mindful Moment will be evaluated in terms of user's adherence and dropout. Participation in this study will last 16 weeks. The Mindful Moment program will last 8 weeks. Participants in both conditions will be invited via email to complete baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up assessment (8-weeks after post-intervention). Assessments will include self-report questionnaires to assess user's acceptability and satisfaction, several indicators (e.g., parenting stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, infant's temperament), and mechanisms that may be involved in the treatment response (e.g., mindful parenting, self-compassion).

Detailed Description

In the present study, the feasibility (e.g., user's adherence, dropout), acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a web-based intervention to decrease mothers' parenting stress in the postpartum period (the Mindful Moment program) will be tested. The design and content development of the Mindful Moment program was conducted through a formative evaluation process.

Although the birth of a child is a time of great happiness, it is also a period of major adjustment for parents. This period encompasses several demands and reorganizations (e.g., changes in routines, new relationships with partner and family) and psychological and emotional challenges (e.g., ability to regulate the baby's emotional states and one's own internal states). These demands often increase stress levels. It is well-stablished in literature that parenting stress may interfere with sensitive parenting and the ability to form a secure attachment with the child. It is also well-established that the quality of parental care is a major determinant of the child's cognitive, social, and emotional development. Therefore, psychological interventions aimed at helping mothers adjust better to the postpartum period and develop adaptive parenting skills are much needed.

Mindfulness (the capacity to pay nonjudgmental attention to the present moment) and self-compassion (attitude of kindness toward one's suffering and desire to relieve it) skills can be highly beneficial for parents since they are well-known psychological resources that help individuals adaptively cope with stress. Mindful applied to the parenting context can be defined as a more accepting, emotionally attuned, and compassionate way of parenting and it is characterized by parenting practices that promote responsive and sensitive care to the child's needs. Although the scarcity of research during the postpartum period, a few studies have shown that mindful parenting training may reduce mothers' psychopathological symptoms and may promote a more positive mother-infant relationship through the promotion of mindful parenting skills. Likewise, online mindful parenting training seems to be an easily accessible and valuable intervention for mothers with elevated levels of parenting stress including in the postpartum period.

Mindful Moment is a self-guided web-based intervention grounded on CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) principles that also includes recent developments in mindfulness and compassion based-therapies, specifically for the postpartum context. This program focuses on the decreasing of parenting stress and the development and enhancement of psychological resources such as mindful parenting and self-compassion.

Mindful Moment is constituted by 6 modules, each module addressing one or two specific thematic contents (1. Mindful parenting and parenting stress; 2. Beginner's mind; 3. Self-compassion and self-care; 4. Reactive vs. responsive parenting; 5. Relationship with others [social support and communication]; 6. Mindful parenting for life). In each module, participants will be provided with both psychoeducational content and therapeutic strategies. Informational material will be given in text format, combined with audio and video.

The main goal of this research is to evaluate Mindful Moment by considering several indicators: 1) Mindful Moment's feasibility in terms of adherence, dropout and the pattern of program usage (e.g., number of completed modules, number of pages accessed in each module); 2) Mindful Moment's acceptability in terms of users' global perceptions of the program; and 3) preliminary evidence of Mindful Moment's efficacy in terms of primary (parenting stress) and secondary outcomes (e.g., mindful parenting; self-compassion; depressive and anxiety symptoms).

The research design of the trial followed the methodological recommendations for the development and evaluation of web-based interventions. A usability test was already conducted through phone-call with 4 mothers who explored the website while verbalizing their experience and opinions (think-aloud sessions). At the end, a brief questionnaire was completed by each participant. The results allowed to identify and implement modifications and the final version of Mindful Moment was achieved, allowing for a pilot RCT efficacy study.

The pilot RCT will be a two-arm trial, conducted with mothers who presented parenting stress (PSS ≥ 41 score). The intervention condition (the Mindful Moment program) will be compared with a control condition (Waiting-List control group). The sample will include mothers who delivered a baby in the postpartum period (up to 18 months postpartum). Mothers are being already recruited online through social media and websites and forums focused on motherhood. The dissemination of the study will also be made in HealthCare Centers, after the approval already obtained from Regional Administration of Health Center (ARS-Center). A minimum number of 30 mothers per condition will be required (N = 60). Accounting for the proportion of mothers who presented moderate or high parenting stress (a total score on PSS of 41 or more) and the 50% of attrition rate over time, an anticipated sample of 600 mothers will be enrolled in the study.

Mothers who demonstrate interest in the study were informed of the study goals, the structure and arms of the research and the researchers' and participants' roles. Mothers who agree to participate in the study gave their informed consent. All ethical requirements for research with humans were guaranteed. Mothers were screened for the presence of parenting stress. In case of lower levels of parenting stress, mothers' participation in the study ended. In case of presenting moderate or high levels of parenting stress (PSS ≥ 41), mothers were randomly assigned (blocked randomization, with allocation concealment) to one of the conditions: the intervention (Mindful Moment program) or the control condition (WLC group).

A researcher (clinical psychologist) will contact mothers in the intervention condition, aiming to explain the program's structure and provide assistance during the course of the study.

Participation in the study will last 16 weeks. The Mindful Moment program will last 8 weeks. Participants in both conditions will be invited via email to complete baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up (8-weeks after post-intervention) assessments. Assessments will include self-report questionnaires to assess user's acceptability and satisfaction, several indicators (e.g., parenting stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, infant's temperament), and mechanisms that may be involved in the treatment response (e.g., mindful parenting, self-compassion).

Conditions

Parenting Stress

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Mindful Moment

Mothers who present parenting stress equal or above 41 score on PSS will receive a web-based intervention to reduce parenting stress (the Mindful Moment program).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Mindful Moment

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The Mindful Moment program is a web-based self-guided cognitive-behavioral intervention to reduce parenting stress, targeting postpartum mothers. It consists of 6 weekly modules, each module targeting a specific thematic content, and providing mothers with both information and specific therapeutic strategies (with a strong focus on the third wave of cognitive-behavioral techniques) to address each thematic content. Modules are sequential.

Control

All mothers who present parenting stress will have access to Mindful Moment intervention. The control group only receive the intervention at the end of the intervention group.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Waiting-List Control (WLC)

Intervention Type: OTHER

The control group only receive the intervention at the end of the intervention group.

Interventions

Mindful Moment

The Mindful Moment program is a web-based self-guided cognitive-behavioral intervention to reduce parenting stress, targeting postpartum mothers. It consists of 6 weekly modules, each module targeting a specific thematic content, and providing mothers with both information and specific therapeutic strategies (with a strong focus on the third wave of cognitive-behavioral techniques) to address each thematic content. Modules are sequential.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Waiting-List Control (WLC)

The control group only receive the intervention at the end of the intervention group.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Having 18 years or more.
• Having a child aged up to 18 months old.
• Being female.
• Being Portuguese.
• Being a resident of Portugal.
• Internet access at home.
• Presence of parenting stress (PSS ≥ 41).

Exclusion Criteria

• Current diagnosis of serious mental health condition (e.g., schizophrenia, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and personality disorder).
• Language difficulties that impede comprehension/reading-writing.

All participants will be informed that they will be randomized to one of the study groups and that will only be included if they give informed consent to participate in the study.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Coimbra

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Daniela Filipa Ventura Fernandes

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Daniela V. Fernandes, MsC

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra

Locations

Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra

Coimbra, , Portugal

Countries

Portugal

References

Fernandes DV, Monteiro F, Canavarro MC, Moreira H. A Web-Based, Mindful, and Compassionate Parenting Training for Mothers Experiencing Parenting Stress: Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the Mindful Moment Program. Mindfulness (N Y). 2022;13(12):3091-3108. doi: 10.1007/s12671-022-02016-0. Epub 2022 Nov 10.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 36408119 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

SFRH/BD/132588/2017

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

MindfulMoment/132588/2017

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id