Randomized Controlled Trial: Comparing the Effectiveness of Mindful Parenting and Parent Management Training

Objective: Parenting Management Training (PMT) has long been a widely adopted intervention. In recent years, Mindful Parenting (MP) programs have attracted considerable attention and emerged as promising alternatives in parenting interventions. This study compared the effectiveness of MP and PMT as preventive interventions. Method: In a randomized controlled trial, 189 parents of primary school children were randomly assigned to PMT, MP, or a waitlist-control group. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up. Results: Both MP and PMT improved parenting practices, parents’ mental health, and parent-child relationships, and reduced child behavioral problems. PMT yielded broad and durable changes in parenting practices, whereas MP resulted in enduring improvements in parental emotional competence, with observed delayed effect. Qualitative findings also indicated that MP changed parental attitudes and brought benefits to other life domains beyond the parent-child context. Conclusions: These findings support the application of MPT and PMT programs as preventive interventions, each with distinct strengths. The study also highlights directions for future research on parenting interventions.