From Breath to Strength: Does Mindfulness Improve Handgrip Strength Among Older Adults in India? A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.
T Muhammad, Manacy Pai, Waad K Ali, Boadi Agyekum, Shobhit Srivastava
Psychogeriatrics July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.70057 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 27,071 |
| Population | Older adults aged 60 and above in India |
| Intervention | mindfulness activities |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | India Handgrip strength Mindfulness activities Contemplative practices Awareness training Older adults Elderly Geriatrics Senior health Healthy aging strategies Physical strength Muscle strength Physical fitness |
| Key findings | Engagement in mindfulness activities was associated with modest improvements in handgrip strength, with stronger and more consistent associations in men than in women. |
Abstract
The integration of mindfulness activities into the daily lives of older adults has demonstrated profound benefits for their overall well-being and vitality. However, evidence on how mindfulness correlates with muscle strength in older adults remains limited. To fill this gap, we explored the association between mindfulness activities and handgrip strength (HGS) in older adults in India. We also examined whether this association varies by sex. We employed a propensity score matching technique, leveraging data from the nationally representative Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017-2018), comprising 27 071 adults aged 60 and above. HGS was measured using a handheld Smedley Hand Dynamometer while participants self-reported their engagement in mindfulness activities. Seventeen % of the men and 11.5% of the women engaged in mindfulness activities. Analysis of the matched sample revealed that the average treatment effect (ATE) that represents the average effect across the entire population was 1.28 kg for men and 0.60 kg for women, indicating that, on average, participation in mindfulness activities was associated with modest improvements in HGS for both sexes. Further, in the PSM matched regression models, for men, engagement in mindfulness activities was consistently associated with higher HGS across all models including the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT), on the untreated (ATU), and ATE, with the largest effect seen in the ATE model (β = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.77-1.40). For women, the association was weaker and significant only in the unmatched and ATE models. Engagement in mindfulness activities was associated with modest but meaningful improvements in HGS among older adults in India, with the associations being much more pronounced in older Indian men. These findings underscore the significance of integrating mindfulness practices into public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthier aging.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study ☆ Pain June 4, 2007
- The effect of the Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction program on the level of perceived stress and geriatric depression in older adults: a randomised controlled study Psychogeriatrics January 3, 2023
- Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention and a health self-management programme on psychological well-being in older adults with subjective cognitive decline: Secondary analyses from the SCD-Well randomised clinical trial. PLoS One 2023
- Effects of Mindfulness Training and Exercise on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA December 13, 2022
- Associations of mindfulness with depressive symptoms and well-being in older adults: the moderating role of neuroticism. Aging & Mental Health April 2019
and 5 more in the library