Perceptions of mindfulness practices as a support for individuals managing caregiving responsibilities and chronic disease: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

Explore the lived experience of individuals managing and/or caregiving for someone with a chronic disease and their perceptions of developing a mindfulness program for stress reduction.

METHODS

Sixteen participants with chronic disease and/or caregivers participated. Participants completed eligibility screening, demographic questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews (30-60 min each) online or by phone. Interviews (n = 16) were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis and NVivo® 12. Survey data were analyzed using SPSS® 28.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged: (a) Chronic disease management and stress-perspectives on life's stressors; (b) Stress reduction techniques/perceptions of mindfulness-knowledge and implementation of stress reduction practices and familiarity with mindfulness; (c) Mindfulness program acceptability, barriers, and facilitators-interest, barriers, and facilitators to attending; (d) Mindfulness program structure-logistics to increase access and appeal to diverse audiences.

DISCUSSION

Mindfulness has the potential for addressing the complexities of stress associated with disease management. Targeting mindfulness programs for populations with chronic disease management and caregiving responsibilities should include: Consideration of group formats with participation limited to this population, structuring programs to overcome barriers (i.e., culturally appropriate location), and equipping members of the community being served as instructors to ensure culturally relevant instruction.

Mindfulness Practice Is Associated With Improved Well-Being and Reduced Injury Risk in Female NCAA Division I Athletes

BACKGROUND

Injury in sport is an inherent risk to participation, and it can have devastating consequences for the athlete, both mentally and physically. Previous research has found that impairments in well-being can increase the risk of injury, and that various forms of mindfulness training and practice can improve well-being and mental health in various populations.

HYPOTHESIS

Mindfulness would be associated with greater well-being and lower risk of injury.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3.

METHODS

A total of 21 female Division I athletes underwent a formal 6-week mindfulness training program and were encouraged to continue mindfulness exercises. The athletes completed daily surveys on their smartphones in relation to mood, muscle readiness (soreness), readiness to train, energy level, daily training load, and whether they had participated in mindfulness training that day. Linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate well-being variables and mindfulness state, and separate mixed effects logistics regression models were used to evaluate injury incidence and wellness variables.

RESULTS

On days with mindfulness practice, athletes reported higher mood (19.6 [18.8-20.3] vs 19.4 [18.6-20.1, P = 0.03), muscle readiness (18.9 [17.8-20.0] vs 18.6 [17.5-19.6], P = 0.03), readiness to train (78.7 [75.9-81.5] vs 77.4 [74.7-80.2], P < 0.01), and energy level (19.3 [18.6-20.1] vs 18.8 [18.1-19.5, P < 0.01) than on the days when they did not participate in mindfulness training. Mindfulness practice was associated with significantly reduced likelihood of suffering an acute injury the following day (odds ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.42-0.43; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

On an individual level, participation in mindfulness by female collegiate athletes was associated with a dramatic reduction in injury risk the following day. In addition, mindfulness was associated with significantly improved mood, muscle readiness, readiness to train, and energy level.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

These findings suggest that mindfulness training in athletes may improve well-being and reduce the risk of injury among high-level athletes.

Mindfulness training is associated with improved quality of life in female collegiate athletes

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of a mindfulness intervention on health-related quality of life in female Division I collegiate athletes.

PARTICIPANTS

135 female collegiate athletes, ages 18 - 23 years.

METHODS

Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was reported twice/year in approximately January and July from January 2017 to 2020 with the 12-question Veterans Rand survey (VR-12). Twenty-three of the participants received a 6-week, in-person, group mindfulness training in spring 2019, while 112 did not.

RESULTS

A significant interaction between time and mindfulness was identified with respect to the mental component score of the VR-12 of the VR-12 (MCS; β = 3.86 ± 1 .56, p = 0.012) but no significant relationships were identified with respect to time (pre-mindfulness: β = -2.36 ± 1.38, p = 0.074), mindfulness (yes: β = -2.26 ± 1.54, p = 0.14) or season (winter: β = -0.84 ± 0.57, p = 0.14). With respect to the physical component score (PCS), no significant relationships were identified with respect to time (pre-mindfulness: β = -1.09 ± 1.21, p = 0.37), mindfulness (yes: β = 1.30 ± 1.31, p = 0.32), season (winter: β = 0.50 ± 0.50, p = 0.32), or the interaction between time and mindfulness (β = 0.35 ± 1 .36, p = 0.80).

CONCLUSIONS

Among female collegiate athletes, mindfulness training is associated with significant improvements in mental HRQoL, but not physical HRQoL.

The Impact of Mindfulness Training on Police Officer Stress, Mental Health, and Salivary Cortisol Levels

Unaddressed occupational stress and trauma contribute to elevated rates of mental illness and suicide in policing, and to violent and aggressive behavior that disproportionately impacts communities of color. Emerging evidence suggests mindfulness training with police may reduce stress and aggression and improve mental health, but there is limited evidence for changes in biological outcomes or the lasting benefits of mindfulness training. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 114 police officers from three Midwestern U.S. law enforcement agencies. We assessed stress-related physical and mental health symptoms, blood-based inflammatory markers, and hair and salivary cortisol. Participants were then randomized to an 8-week mindfulness intervention or waitlist control (WLC), and the same assessments were repeated post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Relative to waitlist control, the mindfulness group had greater improvements in psychological distress, mental health symptoms, and sleep quality post-training, gains that were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Intervention participants also had a significantly lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) at 3-month follow-up relative to waitlist control. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no intervention effects on hair cortisol, diurnal cortisol slope, or inflammatory markers. In summary, an 8-week mindfulness intervention for police officers led to self-reported improvements in distress, mental health, and sleep, and a lower CAR. These benefits persisted (or emerged) at 3-month follow-up, suggesting that this training may buffer against the long-term consequences of chronic stress. Future research should assess the persistence of these benefits over a longer period while expanding the scope of outcomes to consider the broader community of mindfulness training for police.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov#NCT03488875.

Mindfulness training reduces PTSD symptoms and improves stress-related health outcomes in police officers

Law enforcement officers are regularly exposed directly and indirectly to a wide variety of traumatic stressors, which take place against a backdrop of high levels of organizational stressors. Consequently, this group is at elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other negative physical and mental health outcomes, yet there are few empirically supported interventions to proactively mitigate the effects of occupational stress for this population. Recent studies suggest that training in mindfulness meditation may reduce perceived stress and improve related physical and mental health outcomes in this group. We sought to demonstrate feasibility, acceptability, and adherence for an 8-week mindfulness training program in 30 officers from a mid-sized, Midwestern U.S. police department, replicate findings of improved stress-related health outcomes, and provide novel evidence for reduced PTSD symptoms. All 30 officers completed the training, with high rates of class attendance, substantial out-of-class practice time, and good acceptability of the training and teachers. We replicated findings of reduced post-training perceived stress, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and burnout. We also identified novel evidence for reduced PTSD symptoms that persisted at a 5-month follow-up assessment. These results indicate key targets for future investigation in larger, mechanistic, randomized controlled trials of mindfulness training in police officers.