Randomized Controlled Trial of Inner Resources Meditation for Family Dementia Caregivers.
Lynn C Waelde, Hilary Meyer, Jason M. Thompson, Larry Thompson, Dolores Gallagher-Thompson
Journal of Clinical Psychology December 2017 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22470 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31 |
| Population | Older female family dementia caregivers |
| Interventions | Inner Resources for Stress mindfulness meditation and mantra training (IR) psychoeducation and telephone support (PTS) |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cortisol Dementia caregivers Mantra Older adults Satisfaction with life |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation and mantra training (IR) produced statistically significant pre-post improvements in diurnal cortisol slope and overall life satisfaction relative to psychoeducation and telephone support, but not in depression or self-efficacy. Greater adherence to between-session meditation practice was associated with decreases in depression and improved self-reported ability to cope with stress. The authors indicate the program has promise as a feasible and effective caregiver intervention. |
Abstract
This randomized controlled trial examined the comparative effectiveness of 2 interventions for improving diurnal cortisol slope and life satisfaction and reducing stress symptoms among older female dementia family caregivers. Thirty-one family dementia caregivers were randomized to 8 weeks of Inner Resources for Stress mindfulness meditation and mantra training (IR) or psychoeducation and telephone support (PTS). Intention-to-treat analyses revealed statistically significant pre-post improvements in diurnal cortisol slope and overall life satisfaction, but not depression or self-efficacy, in the IR relative to the PTS group. Adherence to between-session meditation practice was significantly associated with decreases in depression and self-reported improvements in ability to cope with stress. In addition, IR participants rated the overall benefits of the program more highly than the PTS group. These results indicate that mindfulness meditation and mantra has promise as a feasible and effective caregiver intervention for quality of life and physiological responding to stress.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Mindfulness training for psychological stress in family caregivers of persons with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Clinical Interventions in Aging September 1, 2017
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family carers of people with dementia Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews August 14, 2018
- A meta-analysis of mindfulness-based interventions for improving mental health and burden among caregivers of persons living with dementia. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing April 1, 2024
- The effect of mindfulness-based intervention on depression in family caregivers of dementia patients: a meta-analysis and GRADE evaluation Frontiers in Psychology May 12, 2026
- Effects of a Social Media-Based Mind-Body Intervention Embedded With Acupressure and Mindfulness for Stress Reduction Among Family Caregivers of Frail Older Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Formative Research February 20, 2023
and 4 more in the library
Cites 9
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- An empirical study of the mechanisms of mindfulness in a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program Journal of Clinical Psychology March 6, 2009
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial. The Gerontologist October 15, 2012
- Pilot controlled trial of mindfulness meditation and education for dementia caregivers. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine October 7, 2010
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology April 1, 2010
and 4 more in the library