Family Based Mindfulness Intervention

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of the proposed interdisciplinary study is to assess feasibility of recruiting a pilot sample of parents of toddlers and engaging them in a pilot study to test a version of mindfulness-based intervention for parenting stress reduction (PMH), an empirically-supported stress-reduction intervention, plus nutrition and physical activity counseling for parents of preschoolers (aged 2-5); to reduce parent (and child) stress levels; improve parenting; promote healthy eating and physical activity in parent and child; and prevent overweight and obesity in preschoolers with an obese parent.

Detailed Description
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This project was a preliminary feasibility and pilot efficacy study to assess stressed low income parents of toddlers who were obese to assess whether a mindfulness based parenting intervention (PMH) can reduce their stress, increase parenting and improve family healthy food and physical activity choices. Parents and toddlers also participated in a Toy Wait Task, a behavioral assay of parenting.The empirically-supported stress-reduction intervention, plus nutrition and physical activity counseling (Control) for parents of preschoolers (aged 2-5) was compared to a nutrition and physical activity counseling alone condition to assess whether PMH improved toddler weight, physical activity and parent emotion regulation and healthy eating.

Official Title
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Preventing Childhood Obesity Through a Family-Based Mindfulness Intervention

Conditions
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Child Obesity, Parent and Child Stress, Parental Stress, Parental and Child Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Lifestyle counseling
* Behavioral: Parenting Mindfully for Health (PMH)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Between ages 18-70 years; Able to read and write (parent) Family with a child between 2-5 years old BMI of parent in obese category High parenting stress (mean score of >=3 on 3 questions from Parenting Stress Index) Exclusion Criteria: Any psychotic disorder or current psychiatric symptoms for child or parent requiring specific attention, including active symptoms of psychosis or suicidal/homicidal ideation Diagnosis of mental retardation, autism or other pervasive developmental disorder for child Inability to give informed consent Current serious medical disorder precluding participation in physical activity

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 2 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: lifestyle<br>Attentional control group will receive weekly meeting to view relaxing video and facilitate discussion along with counseling on nutrition and physical activity for 8 weeks. | Behavioral: Lifestyle counseling<br>* Active control group will receive weekly session for viewing relaxing video and discussion plus nutritional and physical activity counseling for 8 weeks.<br>|
| Experimental: therapy<br>Active group will receive weekly mindfulness based parenting stress reduction (PMH) plus nutrition and physical activity counseling for 8 weeks. | Behavioral: Lifestyle counseling<br>* Active control group will receive weekly session for viewing relaxing video and discussion plus nutritional and physical activity counseling for 8 weeks.<br>Behavioral: Parenting Mindfully for Health (PMH)<br>* Active participants will receive 8 weeks of mindfulness based parenting stress reduction (PMH) plus nutritional and physical activity counseling for 8 weeks.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Attendance | Attendance rates (average number of sessions) were compared across groups. | 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in BMI Percentile | A comparison between groups to determine the impact of the intervention on BMI percentile. | 8 weeks |