Table 4.
Mindfulness-based interventions for caregivers of patients with ASD (n = 12).
| Year | Authors | n | Type of Study | Control Group (If Any) |
Intervention | Outcome | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Neece et al. [81] | 117 | RCT | Active | MBSR intervention including eight weekly 2 h group sessions, a 6 h meditation retreat, and 30–45 min of daily home practice. | Stress | Positive |
| 2023 | Rojas-Torres et al. [88] | 14 | RCT | Waitlist | Mindfulness Parenting (MP) program with eight weekly sessions of 90 min, plus 15–30 min of daily practice. | Anxiety, parental stress, autism severity level, mindfulness awareness | Positive |
| 2023 | Bellone et al. [61] | 13 | Pilot | None | Mindful Self-Care for Caregivers (MSCC), including eight weekly 1.5 h classes plus home practice. | Mindfulness skills, sense of competency, stress, depression | Positive |
| 2022 | Ketcheson et al. [77] | 27 | RCT | Passive | MYtime, a mindfulness yoga program with a 60 min weekly class for 12 weeks. | Stress, anxiety and depression | Positive |
| 2021 | Lunsky et al. [79] | 39 | Pilot | None | Virtual six-week MBI based on MBCT with group session and brief audio practice recordings (10–15 min). | Mental health | Positive |
| 2021 | Rojas-Torres et al. [87] | 12 | RCT | Waitlist | MBSR + Self-compassion delivered in eight weekly sessions of 90 min plus 15–30 min practice at home. |
Depression, anxiety, satisfaction in life, mindful attention awareness | Positive |
| 2023 * | Singh et al. [91] | 216 | RCT | Active | MBI with 3 days training and a 32-week program based on standard Buddhist meditation practices. | Caregiver and client’s quality of life | Positive |
| 2020 * | Singh et al. [90] | 216 | RCT | Active | MBI with 3 days training and a 32-week program based on standard Buddhist meditation practices. | Perceived stress, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, depression | Positive |
| 2020 | Weitlauf et al. [95] | 61 | RCT | Active | Adapted MBSR with six one-hour individual sessions. | Stress, depression, anxiety, life satisfaction | Positive |
| 2017 | Lunsky et al. [78] | 57 | RCT | Active | Six 2 h weekly sessions of mindfulness training. | Psychological distress | Positive |
| 2016 | Rayan and Ahmad [84] | 120 | RCT | Passive | Brief five-week MBI with both in-person sessions and homework. | Psychological health domain of QoL, social health domain of QoL, mindfulness, positive stress reappraisal | Positive |
| 2014 | Dykens et al. [69] | 243 | RCT | Active | Standard MBSR program. | Stress, depression, anxiety, sleep, well-being | Positive |
Note. The paper marked with an asterisk (*) included an MBI for healthcare staff, while unmarked papers included MBIs for parents. MBSR = Mindfulness-based stress reduction. MBI = Mindfulness-based intervention. RCT = Randomized controlled trial.