Mindfulness meditation program for the elderly in Korea: A preliminary review for planning the program
Chan-Young Kwon, Sun-Yong Chung, Jong Woo Kim
Integrative Medicine Research August 27, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2020.100451 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA review of twelve clinical studies on mindfulness meditation programs for older adults in Korea found that the programs were generally offered once a week for eight weeks, with sessions lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Participants' mindfulness levels improved, though results were mixed overall. Dropout was mainly due to poor compliance from conflicting schedules, physical illness, or a change of mind. The findings provide preliminary data to help design future mindfulness-based programs for the elderly and to support integrating such strategies into integrated care programs for mental health and well-being.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Elderly adults in Korea |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | 8-week program, 60-90 minutes per session |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Aged |
| Key finding | Mindfulness meditation programs for the elderly in Korea improved participants' mindfulness levels, though overall results were mixed. |
Abstract
Background: The significance of mindfulness meditation (MM) has increased in recent years in both clinical settings and public health. However, ways to implement MM as a disease prevention or treatment method in the elderly is still a major challenge. A comprehensive analysis of previous studies on MM programs for the elderly in Korea will help build future integrated care programs that incorporate MM. Methods: Seven international and Korean domestic electronic databases were searched to collect relevant clinical studies until May 30, 2020. Results: Sixteen articles with twelve clinical studies were included in this review. The MM program was generally offered once a week over eight weeks with a duration of between 60 and 90 min per session. The main reason for participants’ drop out was poor program compliance attributed to conflicting schedules, physical illness, or a change of mind. The program results were either positive or mixed, but the mindfulness level of the participants was improved. Conclusions: This review summarizes information obtained from previously published studies in Korea, on the design considerations, characteristics, and preliminary effectiveness of the MM program for the elderly. The findings can be used as preliminary data by future practitioners and/or researchers to design MM programs targeted toward the elderly; it could also help policymakers integrate MM-based strategies into integrated care programs to promote their mental health and well-being.