Mindful parenting and child behaviour problems: A chain mediating role of parental and child communicating performance

Objective This study investigates the impact of mindful parenting on child behaviour problems and examines the chain mediating role of parental and child communicating performance in this relationship.Methods A 10-month follow-up survey was conducted, utilizing the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale (IM-P), the Parent-Child Communication Inventory, and the abbreviated version of the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL).Results At baseline (T1), higher levels of mindful parenting in parents were significantly and positively associated with both T1 parental communicating performance and child communicating performance. After 10 months, all three variables showed significant negative associations with child behaviour problems. T1 parental communication performance positively correlated with T1 child communication performance. After controlling for T1 child behaviour problems, children's gender and age, and parents' gender, the indirect association between T1 parents' levels of mindful parenting and T2 child behaviour problems was significant, mediated by T1 parental communicating performance and T1 child communicating performance.Conclusion Mindful parenting enhances parental communication behaviour, leading to improved child communication behaviour and reduced child behaviour problems.