The Two Hearts Mindful Parenting programme for parents of autistic children: a proof-of-concept study
Creators: name: Suvarna, Vedanta
name: Farrell, Lara
name: Adams, Dawn
name: Emerson, Lisa-Marie
name: Paynter, Jessica
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Medicine
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Inorganic Chemistry
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: The aim of this study was to determine thesocial validity, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of amodified mindful parenting program on levels of parenting stress. A randomised, non-concurrent multiple baselinedesign with A-B replication was used to evaluate the effects of themodified mindful parenting program – Two Hearts program. Primaryoutcome measures included mindful parenting and parenting stress.Secondary outcome measures included child externalising behaviours,parent wellbeing, and parenting self-efficacy. Program evaluation andsession ratings were collected to assess acceptability and validity. We found support for the social validity andacceptability of the program and promising findings in terms ofimprovements in parenting stress, mindful parenting, and childexternalising behaviours for parents of autistic children who wereexperiencing clinical stress levels. Effects were maintained at threemonths follow-up. There was no significant change in parentwellbeing. At a group level, there were significant reductionsin mindful parenting between post-program and follow-up andsignificant reductions in parenting stress, and child externalisingbehaviours between pre- and post-program, which were maintained atfollow-up. This program demonstrated promising findingsfor parents of autistic children with clinical parenting stresslevels. Results suggests further research using larger clinicaltrials is warranted. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>Parents of autistic children have significantly higher stress levels as compared to other parent groups.Parenting programmes for autistic families generally focus on behavioural and functional outcomes in children and parenting skills.Mindful parenting programmes have shown benefits for both parent and child in other parent groups. Parents of autistic children have significantly higher stress levels as compared to other parent groups. Parenting programmes for autistic families generally focus on behavioural and functional outcomes in children and parenting skills. Mindful parenting programmes have shown benefits for both parent and child in other parent groups. <b>What this topic adds:</b>The Two Hearts mindful parenting programme significantly improved parenting stress at an individual and group level.The programme saw changes in parents’ mindful parenting for most parents at an individual level and group level and improvements in child externalising behaviours at an individual and group level.The programme is socially valid and acceptable to parents of primary-aged autistic children. The Two Hearts mindful parenting programme significantly improved parenting stress at an individual and group level. The programme saw changes in parents’ mindful parenting for most parents at an individual level and group level and improvements in child externalising behaviours at an individual and group level. The programme is socially valid and acceptable to parents of primary-aged autistic children.