The feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of an online mindful parenting training for mothers with a toddler.

The current study is a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of an online version of the mindful parenting training: 'Mindful with your Toddler.'
Women who participate in the current study al took part in the Holistic Approach to Pregnancy and the first Postpartum Year (HAPPY) study and the HAPPY-follow study. The HAPPY-(follow) study is a large cohort study that assessed women during their pregnancy up until 3.5 years postpartum. The children of the participants are at the toddler age at time of inclusion.

The main aim is to assess the effects of the online intervention on levels of parental stress. Effects on parental reactivity, mindful parenting, self-compassion, personal set goals, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and problem child behavior (aggressive behavior and emotional reactivity) are also assessed. Furthermore, feasibility and acceptability of the online intervention is evaluated.

Participants are randomly allocated to either a wait-list group or an intervention group. Both groups complete questionnaires at three different time points (T1, T2, T3), with 10 weeks between each time point. The total duration of the study is 20 weeks for both groups. Partners of the participating women also complete a short questionnaire at T1, T2 and T3 (two subscales of the CBCL: aggressive behavior and emotional reactivity).

It is hypothesized that an online mindful parenting training for mothers with a toddler will be an effective intervention that will help in improving parental stress.

It is additionally hypothesized that the online mindful parenting training is a feasible and acceptable intervention for mothers with a toddler.

The study is a randomized controlled trial featuring two groups: an intervention group and the wait-list group. Both groups complete questionnaires at three different time points (T1, T2, T3), with 10 weeks between each time point. The total duration of the study is 20 weeks for both groups.



Intervention group:

-T1: Pre-test assessment. Participants will start the training immediately after completing this assessment. Duration of the training is 10 weeks.

-T2: Post-test assessment immediately after the 10-week training.

-T3: Follow-up assessment 10 weeks after completing the training.



Waitlist group:

T1: Waitlist assessment followed by a 10 week waitlist period.

T2: Pre-test assessment. Participants will start the training immediately after completing this assessment. Duration of the training is 10 weeks.

T3: Post-test assessment immediately after the 10-week training.



The OBVL, IM-P, PS, GAS, SCS-3, PHQ-4, and CBCL are administered at T1, T2 and T3.



Partners of the participating women complete the two subscales of the CBCL at T1, T2, T3.

The intervention is an online version of 'Mindful with your Toddler' (Dutch: Mindful met je peuter), an online mindful parenting training. The training is based on the mindful parenting training developed by Susan Bögels (2013).
It is an 8-week intervention. Participants are given ten weeks to complete the intervention.