Mindfulness interventions have modest beneficial effects on the mental health and well-being of older adults. A meta-analysis of 46 studies with samples averaging age 60 or older found an overall effect size of Hedges' g = 0.25. The type of intervention mattered: MBSR showed a non-significant effect (g = 0.12), while MBCT (g = 0.33) and other protocols (g = 0.36) were significant. Significant benefits appeared for mental functioning (g = 0.59), sleep (g = 0.39), depression (g = 0.35), anxiety (g = 0.32), mindfulness (g = 0.23), stress (g = 0.22), and other outcomes (g = 0.24). Targeted outcomes—those matched to the population's symptoms—yielded stronger effects (g = 0.30). The literature is limited by reliance on modified interventions not yet evaluated for effectiveness.
An eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, compared to an active control, did not produce differential improvements in most measures of sustained attention or mind-wandering among older adults aged 65-85. A small effect was observed for self-reported task-unrelated thoughts. Both groups showed improvements over time on the Go/No-Go task, and group differences emerged on reaction time variability and the Conners Continuous Performance Test. The findings suggest that mindfulness training may not specifically enhance attentional control in older adults beyond an active control intervention.
Loneliness is a major risk factor for illness and early death in older adults, yet interventions that simply increase social contact have shown limited success. Two randomized controlled trials tested whether an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program could reduce loneliness in older adults. In the first trial, MBSR significantly reduced loneliness compared to a waitlist control. In the second trial, both MBSR and a Health Enhancement Program (HEP) reduced loneliness to a similar degree, with no significant difference between them. Neither depressive symptoms, stress, sex, age, nor homework completion influenced the results. Both MBSR and HEP appear to be promising approaches for reducing loneliness in older adults, with effects lasting months.