Protective roles of meditation practice and self-esteem on cognitive functions over time: findings from the Midlife in the United States study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive function is an important component of healthy ageing. However, it is unclear whether relaxation/meditation practices provide cognitive benefits, particularly in midlife and early late life. Meditative practices are associated with higher self-esteem, and self-esteem serves as a general protective factor for many health outcomes. The current study examines associations between meditation practice, self-esteem, and change over 10 years in midlife cognitive performance. METHODS: Data were from waves 2 (2003-2004) and 3 (2013-2014) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. We used structural equation modelling to examine whether persistent meditation practice at both waves or episodic practice at one wave is associated with better cognitive function over 10 years, compared to no meditation practice, while controlling for prior cognitive function and covariates (baseline socio-demographics, health, and functional status). Additionally, we assessed if self-esteem mediates the above associations. RESULTS: We included 2168 individuals (Mage = 65 ± 11). After controlling for covariates, the findings revealed that persistent meditation practice in both waves was associated with significantly less decline in episodic memory; however, no such effects were found for executive function. Further, although participants' higher self-esteem was significantly associated with less decline in executive function and episodic memory, it did not mediate the associations between meditation practice and cognitive functions. CONCLUSIONS: While both persistent meditation practice and self-esteem have associations with cognitive outcomes for middle-aged and older adults in MIDUS, self-esteem as a mediator was not supported. Thus, future investigations should examine mechanisms that underlie these protective factors on cognitive performances across adulthood.

Mind-Body Practice and Family Caregivers' Subjective Well-Being: Findings From the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study.

Objectives: Informal caregiving has been associated with higher stress and lower levels of subjective well-being. Mind-body practices including yoga, tai chi, and Pilates also incorporate stress reducing activities. The current study aimed to examine the association between mind-body practice and subjective well-being among informal family caregivers. Methods: A sample of informal caregivers were identified in the Midlife in the United States study (N = 506, M ± SDage = 56 ± 11, 67% women). We coded mind-body practice into three categories, including regular practice (participating in one or more of them "a lot" or "often"), irregular (participating "sometimes" and "rarely") and no practice ("never"). Subjective well-being was measured using the 5-item global life satisfaction scale and the 9-item mindfulness scale. We used multiple linear regression models to examine associations between mind-body practice and caregivers' subjective well-being, controlling for covariates of sociodemographic factors, health, functional status, and caregiving characteristics. Results: Regular practice was associated with both better mindfulness-related well-being (b = 2.26, p < .05) and better life satisfaction (b = 0.43, p < .05), after controlling for covariates. Discussion: Future research should examine whether there is a selection effect of caregivers with higher well-being being more likely to choose these activities, and/or if mind-body practices are effective non-pharmacological interventions to improve family caregivers' quality of life.

Outcomes from a pilot online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy program for dementia family caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: Psychosocial and cognitive-behavioral dementia caregiver interventions are effective, yet accessing counselor/therapist-led programs can be costly and difficult. Face-to-face therapist-led Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is highly effective in dementia caregivers, as established by two different randomized control trials. The current study evaluates a pilot ACT for Caregivers program, which is a community-based, self-guided, online adaptation of ACT. METHOD: Participants (N = 51; Mage=66.0 S. D =11.7, 80% women) completed 10 self-guided sessions teaching ACT, along with accessing an online dementia education library. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA from pre-, posttest, and 4-week follow-up demonstrated decreased depressive symptoms, burden, and stress reactions to behavioral symptoms, and increased positive aspects of caregiving and quality of life. ACT-specific measures improved, with decreases in cognitive fusion and psychological inflexibility (AAQ-II), and improvements in living according to personal values (ValuingProgress increased; ValuingObstruction decreased). All outcomes were statistically significant (at p < .01) and sustained over 4-week follow-up. Although this was a non-clinical sample, the program demonstrated clinical significance, as average depressive symptoms were at the clinical cutoff at baseline, but one standard deviation below clinical cut-off at post-test and 4-week followup. Use of education materials was low (29% of participants used these, albeit rating them helpful), suggesting that ACT likely contributed more to overall improvements. CONCLUSION: The online ACT for Caregivers pilot program offers an empirically supported translation of traditional ACT, improving accessibility, and affordability for family dementia caregivers.