An exploration of dispositional mindfulness across the lifespan and mindfulness interventions for older people
Jennifer (Clinical Psychologist) Thompson
Warwick Research Archive Portal September 11, 2026 DOI: 10.82444/warw.33650860 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Thesis comprising a systematic review, a cross-sectional survey, and a reflective paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 296 |
| Population | Community-dwelling English-speaking younger adults aged 18-34 years (n=162) and older adults aged 65-93 years (n=134); the review covered older adults aged 60 years and older |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The systematic review found few benefits of MBSR for relatively healthy older adults but some psychosocial benefits for those with clinical levels of mood and physical health difficulty, concluding MBSR is viable and feasible though methodological concerns remain. The cross-sectional survey indicated higher dispositional mindfulness, affect, and well-being in older adults compared to younger adults, in line with lifespan development theories. |
Abstract
The three chapters of this thesis are united under a common theme of exploring mindfulness, specifically with reference to older people. Chapter one: The systematic literature review critically evaluates the evidence for mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for use with older adults (aged 60 years and older). 12 articles met pre-specified criteria for inclusion. In studies of relatively healthy, high functioning older adults, there were few benefits observed. For samples of older people with clinical levels of mood and physical health difficulty, benefits were observed in some studies across a range of psychosocial domains. The present review indicates that MBSR is both a viable and a feasible approach for use with older people. As methodological concerns were evident, further research could usefully build upon this initial evidence-base. Chapter two: The empirical paper was a cross-sectional survey of community dwelling, English-speaking younger adults aged 18-34 years (n = 162) and older adults aged 65-93 years (n = 134), using a group difference design. In accordance with initial hypotheses and theories of lifespan development, the present findings indicated higher levels of dispositional mindfulness, affect and well-being for older adults, compared to younger adults. Future research and clinical implications are discussed. This may inform the development of age-appropriate mindfulness interventions. Chapter three: In the reflective paper, I share my experiences of conducting research with people in later life and of researching the topic of mindfulness. I then provide a reflective and reflexive account of the stages of research and go on to discuss implications for my professional and personal development. Completed in conjunction with Coventry University. School of Health and Social Sciences
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |