Efficacy of yoga for caregivers of persons with dementia: An integrative review.
Suzanne Parkman, Jill Olausson
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences December 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/scs.13172 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Integrative review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4 |
| Population | Caregivers of persons with dementia (informal and professional) |
| Interventions | pranayama relaxation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Caregivers Dementia Integrative review Yoga |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Yoga may reduce stress, depression, and anxiety and improve quality of life, vitality, self-compassion, mindfulness, sleep quality, and diastolic blood pressure in caregivers of persons with dementia, but caregiver burden, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate were not significantly changed. |
Abstract
The progressive nature of dementia leaves the person vulnerable and dependent on others for care. While persons with dementia often have better outcomes when cared for at home, it can lead to personal challenges and self-neglect of the caregiver. Mindfulness-based interventions such as yoga can lessen the potential negative effects encountered by caregivers of persons with dementia. The aim of this review was to synthesise available empirical research related to the role of yoga on the biopsychosocial health outcomes for caregivers of persons with dementia population. A systematic search of the databases Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus, Medline and PsychINFO was done using the terms "yoga" AND "caregivers or family members or informal caregivers" AND "dementia or Alzheimer's." Using the selection process outlined by the PRISMA framework, thirty-six studies met the initial criteria and were potentially relevant to the topic. A methodological check was performed using the critical appraisal tool of Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt and the GRADE system of recommendation. This process led to the inclusion of four articles. Four studies were included for this review: two randomised controlled trials, a non-randomised intervention study with a waitlist and a pilot cohort study. Three studies focused on informal caregivers and one study involved professional caregivers. In all studies, yoga practices included asanas, pranayama, relaxation and meditation. This integrative review recommended that yoga may be useful in reducing stress, depression and anxiety while increasing quality of life indicators, vitality indicators, self-compassion scores, mindfulness attention, sleep quality and diastolic blood pressure. Outcomes that were not significantly changed were caregiver burden, systolic blood pressure and heart rate. However, the level of evidence was moderate with small sample sizes suggesting additional research is needed to include well-designed randomised controlled trials with larger sample sizes.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Self-Transcendence and Mental Health in Oldest-Old Adults Nursing Research 1991
- A Yoga and Compassion Meditation Program Reduces Stress in Familial Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease Patients Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family carers of people with dementia Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews August 14, 2018
- Yoga and compassion meditation program improve quality of life and self-compassion in family caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients: A randomized controlled trial. Geriatrics & gerontology international 2017
- Yoga as Coping: A Conceptual Framework for Meaningful Participation in Yoga. International Journal of Yoga Therapy 2016
and 1 more in the library