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Preliminary Evidence for Lasting Benefits One Year Following Mindfulness Training Among Older Family Caregivers of Persons with Neurodegenerative Disease

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Abstract

Objectives

Mindfulness training (MT) may enhance the well-being of family caregivers of persons with neurodegenerative disease. However, long-term benefits are unclear. The current mixed-methods study examined whether benefits associated with MT are maintained 1 year following program completion.

Methods

Family caregivers who participated in a randomized trial examining the benefits of MT relative to psychoeducation were re-contacted 12 months post program completion. Of the original 57 participants, 35 consented to participate in the telephone interview and 23 completed questionnaires that tapped into perceived distress, depression, caregiver burden, and quality of life.

Results

Univariate analyses failed to detect a significant between-groups difference at 12 months post program. Paired sample t-tests revealed maintenance of within-group benefits for distress and depressive symptoms in the MT group such that mean scores at 12 months did not differ from post-intervention scores but did differ from pre-intervention scores. Additional within-group gains were found for the MT group such that caregiver burden at 12 months significantly differed from pre- and post-intervention burden score. Thematic analysis of transcripts revealed four themes: do what works and what fits; moving beyond the program; ability to return; and continued struggle and need for support. Qualitative analyses suggest that continued practice of mindfulness maps onto perceptions of wellness 12 months later.

Conclusions

While MT has potential to support caregivers’ mental health and well-being 12 months following program completion, continued supports are required to facilitate continued practice.

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Data Availability

Data are available at Mendeley Data: Fiocco, Alexandra (2022), “Preliminary Evidence for Lasting Benefits One Year Following Mindfulness Training Among Older Family Caregivers of Persons with Neurodegenerative Disease,” Mendeley Data, V1, https://doi.org/10.17632/y538gmbp9x.1

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the family caregivers who took time from their demanding schedule to participate in this research. We would also like thank the research assistants who contributed to this project.

Funding

This research was supported by the Mind and Life Institute 1440 Award (A.J.F). L.H. is supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Master’s Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Institute for Stress and Wellbeing Research, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada

    Alexandra J. Fiocco & Lauren Hytman

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  1. Alexandra J. Fiocco
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  2. Lauren Hytman
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Contributions

AJF: designed and executed the study, conducted data analyses, and co-wrote the paper. LH: collaborated in the analysis, co-writing, and editing of the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexandra J. Fiocco.

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Ethics Approval

This study was approved by the Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) Research Ethics Board (REB#2014–118-2).

Consent to Participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Fiocco, A.J., Hytman, L. Preliminary Evidence for Lasting Benefits One Year Following Mindfulness Training Among Older Family Caregivers of Persons with Neurodegenerative Disease. Mindfulness 13, 2968–2978 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-02005-3

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