Randomized Controlled Trial of Inner Resources Meditation for Family Dementia Caregivers

Contact Information

Keywords

cortisol; dementia caregivers; mantra; meditation; mindfulness; older adults; satisfaction with life.

Abstract

Objective: 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. Method: 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). Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.

Citation

Waelde, L. C., Meyer, H., Thompson, J. M., Thompson, L., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2017). Randomized Controlled Trial of Inner Resources Meditation for Family Dementia Caregivers. Journal of clinical psychology, 73(12), 1629–1641. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22470

DOI

10.1002/jclp.22470

EWB Constructs:

(2) life satisfaction

EWB Measures:

(1) Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS): Life Satisfaction

data availability:

data availability details:

N/A

brain imaging paradigm:

N/A

brain region/circuit:

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) busy to participate and/or did not wish to provide a saliva sample

Inclusion Criteria

(1) at least 21 years of age
(2) women family dementia caregivers
(3) at least four weekly hours of care to the care recipient (CR)
(4) The CR had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, which was documented by an appropriate medical examination

Non-EWB Behavioral
Measures:

(1) Self-efficacy (Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (SE-UT)
(2) CR cognitive mental status: Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
(3) Subjective improvement (only in follow-up; Waelde et al., 2004, 2008)
(4) Treatment adherence (Daily Practice Log (DPL)
(5) Depression: Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale (CES-D)

First author:

Lynn C Waelde

species:

Human

sample size:

study design:

(5) RCT

longitudinal data?

Yes

younger controls?

interventions:

8 weeks of Inner Resources for Stress mindfulness meditation and mantra training

study population:

(1) cognitively healthy adults

sex (% female):

100%

ethnicity (%white)

61.29%

Age (mean, sd):

59.6 (11.9)

biological/Physiological Measures:

(1) autonomic nervous system