Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Approaches on Stress, Depression, and Serum Cortisol among Elderly in Old Age Homes.

A 12-week mindfulness program for elderly residents of old age homes in Chennai reduced stress and depression but did not significantly lower serum cortisol levels. Among 48 participants aged 60-80, 83.33% of those in the mindfulness group reported low stress afterward, compared to 12.50% in the control group. Depression also improved: 41.67% of the mindfulness group reached expected levels, while 70.83% of controls remained moderately depressed. Serum cortisol did not change significantly. The findings suggest mindfulness can benefit mental health in institutionalized elderly, but longer interventions or other biomarkers may be needed to detect physiological changes.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mental health issues, particularly stress and depression, are highly prevalent among the elderly, especially those residing in old age homes. Elevated serum cortisol levels are associated with prolonged stress and depression, leading to further health complications. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based approach in reducing stress, depression, and serum cortisol levels among elderly individuals in institutional care. This quasi-experimental study was conducted in two old age homes in Chennai. A total of 48 elderly participants (aged 60-80 years) were selected using convenience sampling and divided into experimental (mindfulness intervention) and control (routine care) groups. The 12 weeks mindfulness intervention included techniques such as 5-Senses Grounding, Body Scan Meditation, mindfulness eating, Mindful Walking and breathing space meditation. Data were collected at baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), and serum cortisol levels. Post-intervention, 83.33% of the experimental group reported low stress compared to 12.50% in the control group (P = 0.001). Depression also significantly improved, with 41.67% achieving expected levels in the experimental group, while 70.83% in the control group remained moderately depressed (P = 0.001). However, serum cortisol levels showed no significant reduction (P = 0.21). Mindfulness-based interventions effectively reduced stress and depression but did not significantly impact serum cortisol levels. Future research should examine longer interventions and alternative biomarkers. Nurses are key in integrating mindfulness into elderly care to enhance mental well-being.