Mindful parenting, parent-child relationship and preschoolers’ internalizing behaviors: A cross-lagged panel analysis

The present study examined the bidirectional relationships among mindful parenting, parent–child relationships, and child internalizing behaviors (e.g., anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal) using a longitudinal design. A total of 1,201 Chinese preschoolers (50.3 % boys; age: M = 3.90 years, SD = 0.78) were assessed through parent reports at two time points, one year apart. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that mindful parenting at T1 positively predicted parent–child relationships (β = 0.17, p < 0.001) and negatively children’s internalizing behaviors (β = −0.07, p < 0.05) at T2. However, no evidence was found for the reverse relationship. This study also identified a bidirectional and negative associations between parent–child relationships and internalizing behaviors in preschooler (parent–child relationships → internalizing behaviors:β = −0.07, p < 0.05; internalizing behaviors → parent–child relationships: β = − 0.06, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the parent–child relationships mediated the effect of mindful parenting at T1 on child internalizing behaviors at T2. The mediating effect of the parent–child relationship was stronger at T2 than at T1, likely due to the gradual and cumulative benefits of mindful parenting over time. Child gender did not moderate these relationships. The findings highlight the role of mindful parenting in promoting child psychological development by enhancing parent–child relationships over time.