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Effect of a home-visit intervention on emotional well-being for ethnic minority dementia family caregivers: Use of mindful breathing and compassionate listening

Alzheimer’s Dement., 17: e053221. 

Abstract

Background

Caregiving burden and depressive symptoms among ethnic minority family caregivers with limited English proficiency (LEP) caring for persons with dementia (PWDs) in the United States negatively affect their health status and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to provide a home-visit intervention that was culturally appropriate and language specific delivered by community health workers (CHWs) using mindful breathing and compassionate listening to these caregivers to reduce their burden, depressive symptoms, and negative affect (NA) and improve positive affect (PA).

Methods

The study design used a pre and post intervention by bilingual CHWs visiting participants’ home weekly for a month. CHWs demonstrated compassionate listening of the caregivers’ concerns and issues about caring for PWDs. In addition, CHWs taught the caregivers to practice mindful breathing several times a day as needed that has been shown to reduce anxiety. Burden, depressive symptoms, PA and NA were measured at baseline and after the 4-week intervention. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to examine the difference in each outcome.

Results

Twenty-five ethnic caregivers recruited from local community centers participated (8 Latino, 8 Korean, and 9 Vietnamese; 11 spouses and 14 offspring caregivers). All participants completed the intervention. The English proficiency of participants was 1.3/5 (SD=.91); 20% (5 of 25) reported they cannot speak English at all. Ethnic group differences on outcomes were not significant allowing for pooling of the data. Burden was significantly reduced (Mpre = 49.44 ±16.07, Mpost = 41.88 ±17.46, p=.008) and depressive symptoms decreased but were not significant (p=.091). The PA was significantly improved (Mpre=3.09±1.0, Mpost=3.60±1.0, p=.025) but not the NA (p=.090).

Conclusions

These findings show the potential to reduce caregiving burden and improve positive affect in ethnic minority dementia family caregivers receiving home visits by bilingual CHWs. Caregivers had the opportunity to express their concerns and issues freely to CHWs who demonstrated compassionate listening and taught them mindful breathing. Larger scale studies should be conducted to examine long-term outcomes to improve ethnic minority dementia caregivers’ emotional well-being.

DOI: 10.1002/alz.053221

Effectiveness of a nurse-led Mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan (MTCC) program on Posttraumatic Growth and perceived stress and anxiety of breast cancer survivors

European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Volume 13, 2022 – Issue 1

ABSTRACT

Background

With the development of positive psychology, posttraumatic growth research on cancer patients has attracted increasing attention from researchers. It is immensely important to effectively increase the posttraumatic growth level of cancer patients and improve their quality of life.

Objectives

To investigate the effectiveness of a nurse-led mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan (MTCC) programme for increasing posttraumatic growth (PTG) and decreasing the perceived stress and anxiety of breast cancer survivors.

Methods

A RCT was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to either the MTCC group or the control group. The programme included 59 women with stage I–III breast cancer. Participants in the intervention group participated in a nurse-led 8-week, twice a week, one-hour per day mindfulness-based exercise programme. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured three times (T1 – before intervention; T2 – after intervention; T3 – one year after intervention) using validated scales, including the PTG inventory (PTGI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). A repeated-measure analysis of variance model was used to analyse the data.

Results

Compared with the wait-list control group, the PTG level in the MTCC group was much higher after the 8-week intervention and the follow-up (F = 374.98, P < .000). The results showed that MTCC increased the level of PTG, and the effect persisted 1 year after intervention. In addition, PSS (F = 55.22, P < .000) and SAS (F = 148.92, P < .000) scores were significantly decreased at T2 and T3.

Conclusion

The research preliminarily revealed that the MTCC programme was simple, effective, and more suitable to clinical nurses which should be recommended to cancer survivors to promote their recovery.

DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2021.2023314

Social support and psychological distress among chronic pain patients: The mediating role of mindfulness

Personality and Individual Differences
Volume 190, May 2022, 111551

Abstract

Although an inverse relation between social support and psychological distress among chronic pain patients has been previously reported, little is known about what mediates this association. We examined mindfulness as a mediator of the relationship between social support and psychological distress. In this cross-sectional study, chronic pain patients (N = 94) completed assessments of social support, mindfulness, and psychological distress. Greater social support was associated with less psychological distress. Greater mindfulness was associated with greater social support and less psychological distress. Mediation analyses demonstrated that mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between social support and psychological distress. Findings support and extend prior research by demonstrating a potentially important mediating effect of mindfulness within chronic pain patients. This suggests an important link between social support and mindfulness, and that their integration in the pursuit of mental health should be considered in future behavioral interventions.

DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111551

Mindful awareness as a mechanism of change for natural childbirth in pregnant women with high fear of childbirth: a randomised controlled trial

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Jan 19;22(1):47.

Abstract

Background: Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) is effective in increasing natural childbirth in pregnant women with high fear of childbirth (FOC) as compared to enhanced care as usual (ECAU). We aimed to examine through which pathway of action MBCP reaches this effect, based on a model of approaching or avoiding the challenges related to childbirth.

Methods: One hundred eleven pregnant women with high FOC were measured pre- and post-intervention on FOC (emotion pathway), catastrophic beliefs about labour pain (cognition pathway) and mindful awareness (attention pathway). A multiple mediation model was used to examine through which pathway the mechanism of change operated in relation to approach (i.e., natural childbirth) versus avoidance (i.e., self-requested caesarean section).

Results: It was found that greater mindful awareness (18% R² = 0.18, F[1107] = 22.77, p < 0.0001) was the only significant mechanism of change operating through the attentional pathway leading to natural childbirth. More specifically, nonreactivity to inner experience (a facet of mindful awareness) showed to be the strongest mechanism of change. More extensive meditation practice was positively associated with natural childbirth; however, the number of completed MBCP sessions was not associated with the outcome.

Conclusions: An increase in mindful awareness was the strongest mechanism of change for better adaptation to the challenges of childbirth. Decreases in neither FOC nor catastrophic beliefs about labour pain were identified as mechanisms of change. Additionally, the more one meditated, the more one was inclined towards a natural childbirth. MBCP enhances adaptation to the challenges of childbirth and less use of obstetric interventions in the presence of high FOC.

doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04380-0

Resilience Intervention for Parents of Children with Autism: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial of the AMOR Method

J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Feb;52(2):738-757.

Abstract

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience elevated stress, yet parent-specific interventions are sparse. Thirty-five parents of children with ASD were randomized to the novel 8-week AMOR (Acceptance, Mindfulness, Optimism, Resilience) Method parent group or waitlist control group. Significant gains in resilience were reported by AMOR parents only (d = 1.42, p < 0.001, 95% CI [2.152, 10.083]). AMOR parents exhibited significant gains in stress management and reductions in mental health symptoms, along with parent-reported improvements in martial, family, and child functioning. AMOR group follow-up data showed some maintenance of treatment gains. Findings demonstrate promise for resilience interventions in parents of children with ASD. 

doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-04977-y

Effects of Meditation for Surgeons: A Systematic Review of the Scientific Literature

Ann Surg. 2022 Jan 25.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically review the available evidence about meditation’s effects on surgeons.

Summary background data: Meditation and Mindfulness are positively associated with better mental health and performance in different types of workers and professionals needing high levels of concentration. Surgery is one of the activities with the greatest need for high concentration.Even though these findings are supported by a number of studies, evidence is lacking on the effect of meditation on surgeons.

Methods: We searched PubMed for meditation-related studies that focused on surgeons. A total of 243 articles were retrieved and after screening 8 were selected for data extraction. Four of these studies were pilot studies; 3 of them were randomized controlled trials.

Results: Meditation was found to be beneficial for surgeons. Benefits span from motor skills to mental and physiological improvements.

Conclusion: More awareness and attention on this subject could improve surgeons’ well-being as well as patients’ outcomes.

doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005398

Evaluation of Meditation Apps Available on Google Play and Apple Store: An App Review

Image: Unsplash.com

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2022 Jan 14;289:376-379.

Abstract

Many meditation apps have been used to improve the mental wellbeing of individuals. However, little information is available regarding the quality of the applications. This study aims to evaluate meditation apps using the Mobile Applications Rating Scale (MARS). A systematic search for meditation apps was performed on both Android Google Play and Apple iOS Store. We used two keywords to search both app stores: meditation and mindfulness. Out of 623 apps identified, 334 apps were excluded due to language, containing only reminders to meditate, or for not being accessible. A total number of 289 apps remained, of which 280 apps were excluded for being information-only focused, containing religious practices, eating habits, exercises, or for not being free. Therefore, nine apps were included in this review for evaluation. The MARS ratings used in this app review were based on scores from a prior study conducted. The mobile app Headspace had the highest average (4), which is rated as ‘good’ based on MARS. The remaining apps were rated as acceptable with averages that ranged from 3.2-3.7.

doi: 10.3233/SHTI210937

Mindful Parent Training for Parents of Children Aged 3-12 Years with Behavioral Problems: a Scoping Review

Image: Pexels.com

Mindfulness (N Y). 2022 Jan 8;1-20.

Abstract

Objectives: While mindfulness-based parenting programs (MPPs) are increasingly popular for reducing child behavior problems, the evidence for the advantages of MPP over existing behavioral parent training is unclear. Existing systematic reviews have largely excluded the breadth of MPP protocols, including those that integrate behavioral skills components. Therefore, a scoping review was conducted to map the nature and extent of research on MPPs for parents of children aged 3 to 12 years with behavioral problems.

Methods: PRISMA-ScR guidelines were used to conduct an encompassing peer literature review of cross-disciplinary databases. Studies were included if they reported mindfulness interventions for parents of children aged between 3 and 12 years with externalizing behavior problems and had an outcome measure of child behavioral problems that could be represented as an effect size. Randomized controlled trials as well as quasi-experimental, pre-post studies and unpublished dissertations were included.

Results: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria (N = 1362). The majority of MPPs delivered mindfulness adapted to parenting based on the Bögels’ protocol within clinical settings. There was a dearth of fully integrated mindfulness and behavioral programs. MPPs generally produced pre-to-post-intervention improvements with small effect sizes across child behavior and parent style, stress, and mindfulness measures. Examining longer follow-up periods compared to pre-intervention, effects reached a moderate size across most outcome measures.

Conclusions: MPPs continue to show promise in improving child behavior and parental mindfulness, well-being, and style. Further research is needed to determine how to best leverage the advantages of mindfulness in augmenting the well-established effectiveness of behavioral programs.

doi: 10.1007/s12671-021-01799-y

Home practice in mindfulness-based interventions for psychosis groups: a systematic review and qualitative study

BMC Psychol. 2022 Jan 12;10(1):9.

Abstract

Background: Regular home practice is considered a core component of mindfulness groups and may be associated with better treatment outcomes. This study aimed to (1) review the existing evidence on how much home practice people do in mindfulness-based interventions for psychosis groups, and (2) explore participants’ experiences of the barriers and facilitators to completing home practice in a mindfulness for psychosis group using a qualitative study.

Methods: In study 1, we conducted a systematic review of mindfulness-based interventions for psychosis studies and extracted data on home practice rates. In study 2, we conducted semi-structured interviews with people who had completed a mindfulness for psychosis group (N = 5) as part of their routine community care, specifically focusing on experiences of home practice.

Results: Out of 43 studies included in the systematic review, only 5 reported any data on amount of home practice, and none examined the relationship between completion of home practice and treatment outcomes. In the qualitative study, participants described home practice as being difficult but important. Arising themes were similar to findings from previous (non-psychosis) studies suggesting that generic challenges are common, rather than being specific to psychosis.

Conclusions: We recommend that future mindfulness-based interventions for psychosis studies record data on home practice rates, in order to investigate any association between home practice and treatment outcome. Our qualitative findings suggest home practice can be a valued part of mindfulness for psychosis group, and a normalising approach could be taken when and if participants encounter common challenges.

doi: 10.1186/s40359-021-00694-4