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Parents of Children with Disabilities, Mindfulness and Acceptance: a Review and a Call for Research

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Abstract

Recently, there has been a call for additional research on third-wave parenting interventions incorporating mindfulness and acceptance. A third-wave approach to parenting intervention may be particularly relevant to parents of children with disabilities. This paper provides a systematic review of the existing literature on third-wave parenting interventions for parents of children with disabilities, examining parental and/or child adjustment as an outcome. Four papers were identified and all studies were pre–post designs. The existing literature is promising; however, randomised controlled trials are needed. The importance of extending third-wave parenting interventions to parents of children with disabilities is discussed, and recommendations are made for future research.

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Acknowledgments

I acknowledge an NHMRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (631712).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Level 7, Block 6, RBWH, Herston, Brisbane, 4079, Australia

    Koa Whittingham

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  1. Koa Whittingham
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Correspondence to Koa Whittingham.

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Whittingham, K. Parents of Children with Disabilities, Mindfulness and Acceptance: a Review and a Call for Research. Mindfulness 5, 704–709 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-013-0224-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-013-0224-8

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