Effects of mindfulness meditation interventions on depression in older adults: A meta-analysis
Aging & Mental Health July 15, 2020 Chuntana Reangsing, Tanapa Rittiwong, J. Schneider
Mindfulness-based interventions (MMIs) significantly improved depressive symptoms in older adults compared to control conditions, with a moderate-to-large effect size (0.65). Greater improvements were seen among Asian participants (effect size 1.28) than European (0.59) or North American (0.32) participants. Interventions lasting fewer than 5 weeks showed larger effects (1.47) than longer programs (0.55). MMIs that included guided meditation reduced depression more (0.91) than those without (0.42). Studies that conducted an a priori power analysis reported larger effects (1.0) than those that did not (0.35). The findings suggest MMIs may serve as an adjunct or alternative to conventional depression treatments for older adults.