An Internet-Based Mindfulness- and Compassion-Based Intercare Program for Reducing Parental Burnout: Randomized Controlled Trial

Study design: randomized controlled trial. Published in Journal of medical Internet research (2026). Reported sample: 593 participants. Ages reported: 18 years. Follow-up: 9-month follow-up.

BackgroundParental burnout is an underrecognized syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, detachment from children, and reduced parental efficacy. It is associated with sleep disturbance, addictive behaviors, suicidal ideation, and increased risk of child neglect and family conflict.

In this randomized trial, researchers reported that self-reported adverse events were rare and mild across IBAP-BP and active control. Mediation analyses showed inconsistent associations between mindfulness facets and outcomes.ConclusionsThe culturally adapted, internet-based IBAP-BP program was feasible, safe, and effective compared with the waitlist condition for reducing parental burnout in working mothers, with effects sustained over 9 months, although it did not demonstrate superiority over the active control at the primary end point.

The findings suggest internet-based mindfulness- and compassion-based interventions may offer scalable, equitable options for preventing and treating parental burnout in resource-limited settings. This does not establish what will happen in any individual family.