Self-Reported Parenting Stress and Cortisol Awakening Response Following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Intervention for Parents of Children With Developmental Delays: A Pilot Study.

Background: Many parents of children with developmental delays (DDs) experience high levels of parental stress, and young children with DDs are likely to exhibit clinical levels of behavioral problems. The reciprocal relationship between the two issues makes these families vulnerable to stress-related health risks. To address this, the current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) at reducing parent stress, as measured by both psychological self-report and a physiological biomarker.