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)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| 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 |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | 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.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 24
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances JAMA Internal Medicine February 16, 2015
and 19 more in the library