Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) Program with iMINDr Application Support for Older Adults with Depression Symptoms: A Feasibility Study
Lutvija Hrnjic, Nina Fry, Helané Wahbeh
OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine October 14, 2021 DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104034 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 38 |
| Population | Older adults with depressive symptoms recruited online |
| Interventions | Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) iMINDr application guided meditation workbook |
| Duration | Six-week intervention period; participants took 9.9 ± 3.5 weeks to complete the course |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key points | The Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention plus iMINDr app was associated with clinically and statistically significant improvements in depression symptoms, well-being, positive and negative affect, sleep quality, and pain intensity among older adults with depressive symptoms. Participants took an average of 9.9 weeks to complete the six-week course, and high attrition was mainly related to motivation and stress. |
Abstract
The growing population of older adults with depression is a significant public health concern, and effective treatments are necessary. Mindfulness meditation intervention offers effective treatment for depression, but little research has been conducted on the older population. This study aimed to evaluate if the combination of the Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) plus iMINDr application improves well-being in older adults with depressive symptoms. Potential participants were recruited online. IMMI included a one-hour online session once a week, a daily 30-minute home practice of guided meditation using the iMINDr app, and a workbook. Measures were collected online before and after the six-week intervention period. Online session adherence was tracked. Thirty-eight participants completed all study requirements and are included in the analysis. Participants showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in depression symptoms, well-being, positive and negative affect, sleep quality, and pain intensity. Participants took 9.9 ± 3.5 weeks to complete the course. High attrition rates mainly were related to participants' motivation to complete the course and stress levels. There were no significant demographic differences between participants and depression symptoms. Potential applications and limitations are discussed. Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) was effective in treating depression symptoms in older adults.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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and 9 more in the library