Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children (MBCT-C) on internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems in children from single-parent families: A study protocol for a crossover randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children (MBCT-C) is an evidence-based intervention that requires further investigation in relation to its effectivness across diverse populations and prolonged follow-up durations. The present study aimed to develop a study protocol to evaluate MBCT-C in addressing internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as attention problems, among children from single-parent families. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) using crossover conditions is proposed. The intervention condition will receive twelve weekly sessions of MBCT-C group therapy, while the waitlist (WL) condition will initially serve as a control and then cross over to receive MBCT-C. A total of seventy-six children (aged 10-12) will be randomly allocated to the two study arms. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups. Participants will be assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), and will respond to the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), Clinical Global Impressions (CGI), Mindfulness Inventory for Children and Adolescents (MICA), MBCT-C Adherence Scale (MBCT-C-AS), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Child and Parent Evaluation Questionnaire (MBCT-C-CPEQ). Data will be analyzed using a mixed regression model in STATA 18. As this is a study protocol, no results are available to report at this time. This study protocol is the first attempt to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of MBCT-C using a crossover RCT that will help develop interventions tailored to internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems among children from single-parent families.