The extended nervous system: affect regulation, somatic and social change processes associated with mindful parenting

Abstract

Background A theoretical model of mindful parenting has the potential to succinctly summarise its various change processes. The primary aim of this study was to investigate some of the change processes associated with mindful parenting, namely, the affect regulation, somatic and social change processes. A secondary aim was to verify whether clinical insights are consistent with the change processes identified in a systematic review of mindful parenting. Method Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse semi-structured interviews with four Australian clinicians delivering Mindful Parenting (MP) programs. The clinicians had extensive personal meditation practice. This qualitative study is part of a mixed methods study, which commenced with a quantitative systematic review. Results Six higher-order themes identified as change processes included reflective functioning, attachment, cognitive, affective, somatic and social change processes. Conclusion The anchor is a new theoretical model summarising the change processes associated with mindful parenting. The mother portrayed as the extended nervous system for the infant is a neologism that also has not been previously mentioned in the literature. Given the limitations with the small sample and potential bias with interpretation, the anchor is a starting point to developing a theoretical model of mindful parenting. Future research with larger sample sizes and objective measures is needed to confirm whether the anchor is a reasonable summary of the change processes.

Exploring How UK Adults' Attachment Style in Romantic Relationships Affects Engagement in Controlling Behaviours

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Mindful Parenting Interventions for the Postpartum Period: Acceptance and Preferences of Mothers with and Without Depressive Symptoms

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Experiences of the Bariatric Pre-Surgery Evaluation Process in a National Health Service—An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

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