[The influence of activities on the quality of life of the elderly: a systematic review]

Effects of mindfulness training on quality of life and well-being in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Health Promotion (MBHP) program on quality of life (QOL) and well-being in older adults compared to an active control group.

METHOD

A randomized controlled trial nested within a cohort study was conducted. Participants were allocated to either the MBHP intervention or an active control group (ACG) receiving computer-based cognitive stimulation. Outcomes included QOL, psychological health, sleep quality, and religiosity. Both interventions lasted four months. A mixed-methods approach was used, collecting qualitative and quantitative data at baseline and post-intervention.

RESULTS

Statistically significant improvements in QOL were observed only in the ACG. However, the MBHP group showed improvements in stress, anxiety, intrinsic religiosity, and sleep quality compared to the ACG. Qualitative findings indicated enhanced perceptions of social support, self-awareness, self-care, and sleep quality in the MBHP group. Notably, a discrepancy emerged between the QOL quantitative results and the subjective improvements described in interviews.

CONCLUSION

The MBHP program did not significantly improve QOL compared to the cognitive stimulation control. Nonetheless, well-being indicators were positively impacted in the MBHP group. Future research should explore which profiles of older adults might benefit most from regular mindfulness practice.

Influence of Social Support and Subjective Well-Being on the Perceived Overall Health of the Elderly

Scientific interest in the positive aspects of aging and the development of healthy aging has increased, given the need to ensure older people well-being and quality of life. In this sense, social support and some sociodemographic variables may have a not yet entirely clear role. The main objective of this work was to analyze the predictive relationships of age, marital status, social support and subjective well-being on the general perception of the health of a group of elderly people. The participants were 137 people (77.4% women) between 61 and 91 years old (M = 73.11; SD = 6.22); 56.9% of them had a partner and 40.1% did not. The path analysis tested indicates that social support has an indirect predictive value on perceived overall health through its influence on subjective well-being. Age and life satisfaction are the most important direct predictors of perceived overall health. Conclusions highlight the need to delve into the study of explanatory factors of the general perception of the health of the elderly and promote interventions to facilitate the development of an appropriate social support network and increase the subjective well-being of this group.