Efficacy of Mindfulness Yoga on Well-Being of Parents Raising Preschool Children at COVID-19

Background: Mindfulness parenting is defined as parenting as paying non-judgmental, non-reactive attention to each moment and interaction with the child, such that the parent is aware of the child’s needs in any moment. At COVID-19 pandemic period, parents raising preschool children felt sever stress because they were required to stay home with children.

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of mindfulness yoga on mood, fatigue, mindfulness attention awareness, and subjective happiness of parents raising preschool children, and the effective factor on subjective happiness of these factors.

Methods: Participants were 31 females who were raising preschool children. They practiced mindfulness yoga total 3 times once a week about 60 minutes by online before and after mindfulness yoga, participants filled out the Subjective Happiness scale, the Japanese version of the Mindful Attention Awareness scale (Awareness), the Fatigue Checklist, and the Profile of Mood Scale.

Results: The Mood score showing psychological distress or stress significantly decreased (t=3.9, p<.001). The Fatigue score also significantly decreased (t=4.39, p<.001). The Awareness score significantly increased (t=-4.0, p<.001), and the Subjective Happiness score significantly increased after mindfulness yoga (t=-3.09, p<.01). A multiple regression analysis showed that the Awareness was the most effective on Happiness. Increase of mindful attention and awareness showed that parents paid attention and were aware of child and parents themselves much more than before after mindfulness yoga.

Conclusion: These results suggest that mindfulness yoga on line decrease stress and promote well-being of parents raising preschool children at COVID-19 pandemic, and importance of mindful attention awareness for subjective happiness. To prepare next pandemic, we can use mindfulness for stress reduction and happiness for parents and children. It is suggested that Mindfulness yoga is effective to decrease stress and increase well-being of them at COVID-19 pandemic. This program may be useful times (delete) not only at COVID-19 pandemic but also other disasters.