RESUMEN
Abstract The Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting (IM-P) scale is one of the first measures that specifically assesses mindful parenting, a specific application of mindfulness, that has been defined as paying attention to your child and parenting in a particular way, intentionally, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. Psychometric properties of a Spanish-language version of the IM-P scale were examined in a sample of 111 mothers of preschool-age children living in Santiago, Chile. The original IM-P model with five factors and 31 items showed indicators of goodness of fit within acceptable ranges, however two items presented extremely low factor loadings that suggest a lack of fit to the model. Also, there was a high correlation between two factors which were theoretical and conceptually very related: Compassion for the self and child and Non-judgmental Acceptance of the self and child. Therefore, it was considered appropriate to test a new four-factor model in which these two factors were merged into one, and items loading low in the previous model were eliminated. This new model showed a slightly better fit than the five-factor model. The resultant four-factor version and its subscales showed good internal consistencies. Construct validity of the IM-P scale was investigated by calculating correlations with general mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ). As expected, a significant positive correlation was found between the two measures (r=0.73, p<0.01), and among almost all subscales. In general, the results present sound psychometric properties of the Spanish translation of the IM-P in Chilean mothers of preschool children.
Resumen Las propiedades psicométricas de la versión en español de la escala de Atención Plena (Mindfulness) Interpersonal en la Parentalidad (IM-P) fueron examinadas en una muestra de 111 madres de niños y niñas de edad preescolar en Santiago de Chile. La estructura de cinco factores de la escala IM-P original no fue completamente respaldada mediante análisis factorial confirmatorio. Por lo tanto, se testeó una estructura de cuatro factores. Dos de los factores encontrados fueron coherentes con aquellos originalmente hipotetizados. Los otros consistieron en una re-agrupación de items de las subescalas Consciencia Emocional de si misma y del hijo(a), Aceptación sin juicio de si misma y del hijo(a) y Compasión hacia si misma y hacia su hijo(a), en dos factores: uno que da cuenta de compasión y no-juicio de la madre hacia si misma y, el otro que da cuenta de la compasión, no-juicio y consciencia emocional de la madre hacia su hijio. La versión resultante de cuatro factores y sus sub-escalas presentaron buena consistencia interna. Se analizó la validez de constructo mediante cálculo de correlaciones con mindfulness general (Cuestionario de cinco dimensiones de Mindfulness, FFMQ). Como se esperaba, se encontró una correlación positiva significativa entre las dos medidas (r=0.71, p<0.01), y entre la mayor parte de las subescalas. En general, los resultados dan cuenta de buenas propiedades psicométricas de la versión en español de la escala IM-P en madres de niños y niñas preescolares en Chile.
RESUMEN
The present study evaluated whether mothers' participation in a mindfulness-based intervention led to statistically significant differences in their general levels of stress, depression, anxiety, parental stress, mindful parenting, and mindfulness. Forty-three mothers of preschool-age children participated, 21 in the intervention group and 22 in the comparison group. Scores of mental health variables were within normal ranges before the intervention. All of the participants worked at the Universidad Católica de Chile (Catholic University of Chile), and their children attended university preschool centers. Repeated measured ANOVA analysis were performed considering differences between gain scores of each group, rather than post-treatment group differences. This was chosen in order to approach initial differences in some of the measures (mindfulness, mindful parenting, and stress) probably due to self-selection. As predicted, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in general and parental stress and an increase in mindful parenting and general mindfulness variables when compared with the comparison group. Effect sizes ranged from small to medium, with the highest Cohen's d in stress (general and parental) and mindful parenting. In most cases, the significant change was observed between pre- and post-test measures. Follow-up measures indicated that the effects were maintained after 2 months.
