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

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHOD: 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. RESULTS: As this is a study protocol, no results are available to report at this time. CONCLUSIONS: 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.