Evaluating the efficacy of a modified mindfulness program in enhancing psychosocial wellbeing and cognitive functions of community dwelling older adults
Samuel Dun Hai Foo, Leanne Li Yan Tham, Kirsten Anne Yu En Tay, Isabel Yi Xuan Koo, Jin En Ong, Chew Sim Chee
Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare May 10, 2024 DOI: 10.1177/20101058241253468 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA modified Mindfulness for Senior Wellbeing (MSW) program improved mindfulness, sleep quality, working memory, episodic memory, and cognitive flexibility in older adults, and reduced worrying thoughts related to a financial subscale of flourishing. Nineteen community-dwelling older adults (mean age 69.7 years) completed a 5-week mindfulness training in a single-group pre-post design. Other measures of psychosocial wellbeing showed slight but not statistically significant improvements. The authors suggest the locally tailored program is feasible and may bring positive benefits to older adults.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Single-group pre-post study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 19 |
| Population | Community-dwelling older adults (mean age 69.7 years) |
| Intervention | modified Mindfulness for Senior Wellbeing (MSW) program |
| Duration | 5-week training |
| Key finding | The mindfulness program improved mindfulness, sleep quality, working memory, episodic memory, and cognitive flexibility, and reduced worrying thoughts related to a financial subscale of flourishing. |
Abstract
Objective To assess the effects of a modified Mindfulness for Senior Wellbeing (MSW) program on older adults’ psychosocial wellbeing (flourishing, sleep quality, self-transcendence, purpose and meaning) and cognitive functions (working memory, episodic memory, speed of processing, cognitive flexibility). Methods Twenty-eight community dwelling older adults were recruited to participate in the 5-week mindfulness training out of which nineteen (mean age = 69.7 years) who met the training requirements were included in the data analysis. Due to practical limitations, a single-group pre–post study design was adopted. Participants completed the outcome measures before and after the training program. Results Participants experienced significant improvements in their levels of mindfulness, sleep quality, and some aspects of cognitive functions (working memory, episodic memory, cognitive flexibility), and reduced worrying thoughts related to a financial subscale of flourishing. Other outcome measures showed slight improvements albeit not statistically significant. Conclusion Taken together, these preliminary findings shed light on the feasibility and potential of the locally tailored mindfulness program to bring about positive benefits to the older adults.