This 5-wave, 3-year longitudinal study of 2,228 Chinese adolescents (baseline mean age ~13 years; 46% girls) used random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) to examine within-person, bidirectional links between paternal and maternal mindful parenting, adolescent gratitude, and adolescent flourishing.
At the within-person level, paternal mindful parenting predicted adolescents' later gratitude (β = 0.08–0.09), while adolescents' gratitude more strongly predicted later maternal mindful parenting (β = 0.10–0.24). Adolescents' gratitude consistently predicted later flourishing in both parent models (β = 0.17–0.23). Boys showed stronger reciprocal links between gratitude and parental mindful parenting; girls showed stronger links between flourishing and subsequent gratitude.
- Single-country (Chinese) sample limits generalizability to other cultural contexts. - All measures were self-reported, raising common-method bias concerns. - The study was not preregistered, increasing risk of undisclosed flexibility in analysis.
Engaging fathers in mindful parenting may be a meaningful lever for building adolescent gratitude, which in turn supports flourishing. Clinicians and school counselors working with families should consider involving both parents—especially fathers—in positive parenting programs.
