Objectives: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown effectiveness in promoting parents’ and children’s well-being. The development of MBIs for parents has been growing worldwide, but varied curricula and overlapping contexts make it hard to grasp their core features. The aim of this study was to synthesize and summarize the target groups, effects, dissemination, format, and content features of MBIs for parents. Method: A literature search for peer-reviewed articles published before December 2023 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science following PRISMA guidelines. A quality appraisal was conducted for each included study. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of MBIs for parents were included. Results: After the eligibility assessment, 20 RCTs were identified. Most studies included only mothers and non-clinical target groups for both parents and children. Most of the interventions were derived from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Several interventions demonstrated some evidence of effectiveness in reducing parenting stress. The majority of the interventions were delivered in a face-to-face format, and the length varied between four and nine sessions. Activities most commonly used were psychoeducation, group discussion, imagination exercises, and mindful parenting exercises. Conclusions: The interventions included a variety of types of dissemination, format, and content, and various curricula applied to the same target groups. Mapping the target groups and the intervention features can help to develop more homogeneous and effective interventions that can be applied to other target groups for which MBIs have not yet been developed or adapted. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered.

Although parenting stress has been identified as one of the most important and highly acceptable targets for postadoption psychological intervention, knowledge regarding the modifiable factors that contribute to explaining this outcome among adoptive parents remains scarce. This study aimed to explore whether and to what extent adoptive parents’ mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and self-compassion contribute to explaining parenting stress and to analyze whether this contribution varies according to children’s age, time passed since the adoptive placement, and the parents’ gender. Cross-sectional data from 302 Portuguese adoptive parents with children between 1 and 17 years old were collected online through self-response questionnaires. Controlling for a wide range of child-, adoption-, and parent-related variables, lower levels of mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and self-compassion were associated with higher levels of parenting stress. These associations were not moderated by children’s age, time passed since the adoptive placement, or the parents’ gender. The final regression model explained 50% of the variance in parenting stress. These results allow us to reflect on new guidelines for both preventive and remedial interventions with adoptive parents, given the apparent added value of promoting these psychological resources.

Effective psychological parenting interventions delivered to adoptive parents may prevent serious adjustment difficulties and promote a healthy functioning; however, less is known about adoptive parents’ specific parental difficulties and help-seeking behaviors and perceptions, the understanding of which is deemed necessary to design well-informed interventions. This study aimed to describe parental difficulties, help-seeking behaviors, satisfaction with, and perceived barriers to seek, professional help, and acceptability of psychological parenting interventions among Portuguese adoptive parents. Comparisons with biological parents (Study 1) and between adoptive parents that requested adoption-specialized and non-specialized support (i.e., adoption-specialized vs. non-specialized help-seekers) (Study 2) were explored. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. Participants were 471 adoptive and 552 biological parents of children aged under 18 years who were recruited through schools, adoption agencies, and social networks. They completed measures assessing parental difficulties, help-seeking behaviors, satisfaction with, and perceived barriers to seek, professional help, and acceptability of psychological parenting interventions. Comparison tests between the study groups, Pearson’s correlations, analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate logistic regressions (MLR) were performed. Parents’ well-being and normative parenting challenges were the most frequent difficulties in both groups, but only associated with adoptive parents’ help-seeking. Although difficulties related to a child’s problems/parent–child relationship were more frequent among adoptive parents, adoption-related difficulties were rarely reported. Adoptive parents sought professional help more frequently, regardless of parental difficulties. Knowledge-related barriers to seeking help were the most frequent among adoptive parents. Adoption non-specialized help was less satisfactory. Acceptability of psychological parenting interventions was high, but dependent on parental difficulties. Implications for post-adoption services’ development are discussed.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the association between positive mental health and mindful parenting among Portuguese new mothers by analyzing the mediating role of parenting stress. The moderating role of the perceived impact of COVID-19 on this association was also explored. Method: Sample collection occurred between November 2020 and March 2021. Data from 142 women with a child aged up to 2 years old were collected online through self-report measures. Simple mediation and moderated mediation models were employed while controlling for maternal sociodemographic and health-related data. Results: After controlling for the number of children and clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower levels of maternal positive mental health were associated with lower levels of mindful parenting through higher levels of parenting stress. The association between positive mental health and parenting stress was more pronounced when mothers perceived the impact of COVID-19 as negative. Conclusions: Our results suggest the relevance of positive dimensions of maternal mental health during early parenting. These appear to contribute to parenting stress, especially under stressful perceived circumstances such as those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to maternal mindful parenting skills. It seems important to assess and intervene early in women’s positive mental health and parenting stress, even in the absence of psychopathology, so that new mothers are more likely to adopt adaptive parenting approaches, such as mindful parenting. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered.

Developing postadoption interventions to prevent parenting stress and promote parents’ well-being is urgent. Mindful parenting-based interventions show promise in achieving these goals and are well received by adoptive parents (APs). However, face-to-face interventions face significant barriers. E-health tools offer a solution by improving accessibility and flexibility and reducing long-term costs. Our main aim is to develop and assess the preliminary efficacy of a web-based mindful parenting postadoption intervention, AdoptMindful2Care@Web, by using a user-centered approach to ensure its effectiveness and cost efficiency. First, two quantitative surveys will be conducted to assess the needs and preferences of APs and gather input from adoption professionals. Then, a prototype version of the intervention will be created and tested for usability with the APs via the Think-Aloud method. Finally, a pilot version will undergo a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial to assess its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy via self-report questionnaires. By developing AdoptMindful2Care@Web employing a user-centered approach, we hope to provide an effective intervention that is adjusted to the reality of its users and the surrounding context. In doing so, we will be able to promote AP access to specialized mental health care efficiently.