The Effectiveness of a Hybrid Mindfulness-Based Intervention in Reducing Stress Among Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Patrick Pui Kin Kor, Alex Pak Lik Tsang, Daniel Lok Lam Lai, Justina Yat Wa Liu
The Gerontologist November 23, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnaf281 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 127 |
| Population | Dementia caregivers in Hong Kong |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Dementia Care Program (MBDCP) |
| Duration | 6-week intervention, 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Caregiver burden Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Randomized controlled trial Dementia caregivers:caregivers Program Stress reduction:perceived stress Depressive symptoms Emotional toll Physiological well-being |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | The Mindfulness-Based Dementia Care Program significantly improved perceived stress, depressive symptoms, trait mindfulness, and heart rate variability compared to a brief education program. |
Abstract
Informal caregivers of people with dementia experience significant caregiving stress. Mindfulness-based interventions are effective approaches for alleviating caregiving stress. However, traditional mindfulness training is intensive and challenging to attend due to the substantial caregiving responsibilities of this population, leading to issues with program attrition and adherence. To address this limitation, a novel Mindfulness-Based Dementia Care Program (MBDCP) was developed by simplifying traditional mindfulness training and utilizing a hybrid delivery model tailored to the needs of dementia caregivers. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the MBDCP in reducing caregiving stress compared to a brief education program. A single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted with 127 dementia caregivers (MBDCP: n = 64; Control: n = 63) recruited from three community care centers in Hong Kong. The MBDCP included six weekly 90-minute sessions delivered through face-to-face and online formats. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome was perceived stress, while secondary outcomes included heart rate variability, mindfulness, depressive symptoms, caregiving burden, dyadic relationships, and neuropsychiatric symptoms of care recipients. MBDCP significantly improved perceived stress, depressive symptoms, trait mindfulness, and heart rate variability compared to the control group. No significant effects were observed on caregiving burden, dyadic relationships, positive caregiving aspects, or neuropsychiatric symptoms. The MBDCP effectively reduced stress and improved psychophysiological outcomes in dementia caregivers. These findings highlight the potential of simplified, hybrid mindfulness training to enhance accessibility and effectiveness for this population.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 12
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- How long does a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program need to be? A review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological distress Journal of Clinical Psychology March 23, 2009
- Efficacy of 8- and 4-Session Mindfulness-Based Interventions in a Non-clinical Population: A Controlled Study Frontiers in Psychology August 8, 2017
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family carers of people with dementia Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews August 14, 2018
- Evaluating the effectiveness of a 6-week hybrid mindfulness-based intervention in reducing the stress among caregivers of patients with dementia during COVID-19 pandemic: protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychology July 19, 2022
and 7 more in the library