Date of Graduation

Summer 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chairperson

Stevie Grassetti, PhD

Committee Member

Victoria Dahl, PhD

Committee Member

Jodi McKibben, PhD

Abstract

Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in children. Targeting parent-level factors known to play a role in maintaining children’s anxiety symptoms could help improve treatment outcomes for this population. The present study assessed change in child anxiety symptoms and various parent-level factors, specifically parent emotion regulation, stress, mindfulness, and parent-child relationship quality, before and after participation in a mindful parenting intervention. It also examined whether change in parent-level factors predicted change in children’s anxiety. There was no statistically significant change in child anxiety symptoms from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Most participants did not begin the study with clinically significant levels of anxiety and remained within the functional range at post-intervention. There were statistically significant improvements in parent mindfulness and emotion regulation but not in parent-child relationship quality or parenting stress. Lastly, change in parenting stress, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and parent-child relationship quality did not predict change in child anxiety symptoms. Clinical implications, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.

Final Version Confirmation

1

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Available for download on Saturday, August 18, 2029

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