Parents of children with disabilities are known to experience stressful or anxious feelings in their role as both parents and caregivers but it is less known about what, if any, effective strategies may be used to reduce these feelings. The following study aimed to explore the use of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) for parents of a child with a disability and consider the effects these may have on stressful or anxious feelings experienced by those parents during parent-child play interactions. Parents with a child with a disability included in the study met the following inclusion criteria: parents must be at least 18 years of age with a child with a disability between the ages of two and twelve and must be English-speaking. This study was conducted
virtually in the format of a researcher-led focus group. To assess the effectiveness of the mindfulness strategies provided, follow-up surveys were conducted six weeks post-intervention, and qualitative data was collected through audio transcripts. One theme identified in the follow-up survey responses was the positive effects of mindfulness techniques during parent-child play in public or private settings. Based on the follow-up survey results, both participants expressed positive experiences and decreased instances of stressful or anxious feelings using mindfulness techniques. Limitations of the study include a limited sample size indicated by only having two
participants who both identify as female and mothers to a child with Down syndrome, lack of standardized assessment tools, and participants located in the same geographical location. Implications for future studies and practice include the effects of prolonged use of mindfulness techniques on the anxiety of caregivers and parents of children with diversified diagnoses.