Mothers who were under the treatment for opioid use disorder attended a program which helped them improve parenting skills.
Mindfulness-based parenting intervention may help improve the quality of parenting among mothers. Scientists at Jefferson's Maternal Addiction Treatment Education & Research (MATER) program studied the improvement of parenting skills in mothers who were in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
‘Mother/baby education and practice, education on the impact of trauma, and mindfulness meditation helped mothers to improve parenting.’
"Our results validate a powerful intervention when it is needed most," said senior author Diane Abatemarco, Ph.D., MSW, principal investigator, Director of MATER and Associate Professor of OB/GYN and Pediatrics in the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. "By improving parenting through mindfulness, we may be able to change the intergenerational trajectory of trauma and improve children's and families' lives."
A total of 160 women participated in a 12-week mindful parenting intervention at Jefferson's Family Center, an outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment center that cares for women who are pregnant, parenting or working toward reuniting with their child.
The mindfulness-based program included mother/baby education and practice, education on the impact of trauma, and mindfulness meditation. Themes included non-judgment, full attention and compassion.
"We designed the mindfulness-based parenting program to give women the resources and tools to be great parents. Our program supports moms, building their self-efficacy and self-confidence," said Abatemarco.
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Women who participated in the mindfulness-based parenting program experienced a clinically significant increase in parenting quality, from "low" at baseline to "moderate" at completion.
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Source-Eurekalert