Reducing Maternal Stress to Improve Obesity-related Parenting Practices

Reducing Maternal Stress to Improve Obesity-related Parenting Practices

Maternal stress is associated with children's risk for obesity controlling for socioeconomic status. The association between maternal stress and child obesity is particularly strong in Latinx families, whose children also have the highest rates of obesity in the United States. A mindful parenting program might reduce Latina mothers' psychological stress and lead to improved parenting practices and ability to create a healthier environment. The primary objective of the proposed research is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally-relevant intervention that integrates mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindful parenting in Latina mothers. The investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial comparing the Calma, Conversa, y Cría (CCC) intervention to an active control condition in 50 Latina mothers of elementary-school age children. Participant satisfaction rates and qualitative interviews will provide evidence of the program's acceptability. Feasibility will be determined by examining recruitment rates, retention rates, and treatment fidelity. Completion of this project will inform the development of a full-scale efficacy trial.

Inclusion Criteria:

• over the age of 18 years
• identify as female
• identify as Hispanic or Latina
• have a child between the ages of 3 and 11 years who primarily resides with them
• able to understand basic instructions in either Spanish or English

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant in the near future
• actively dependent on a substance
• have untreated psychosis, PTSD, or social anxiety that would impair their ability to function in a group setting
• child has an obesity-associated genetic syndrome
• child has a pervasive developmental disorder