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Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Older Adults: a Review of the Effects on Physical and Emotional Well-Being

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Abstract

This comprehensive review examined the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on the physical and emotional well-being of older adults, a rapidly growing segment of the general population. Search procedures yielded 15 treatment outcome studies meeting inclusion criteria. Support was found for the feasibility and acceptability of mindfulness-based interventions with older adults. Physical and emotional well-being outcome variables offered mixed support for the use of mindfulness-based interventions with older adults. Potential explanations of mixed findings may include methodological flaws, study limitations, and inconsistent modifications of protocols. These are discussed in detail and future avenues of research are discussed, emphasizing the need to incorporate geriatric populations into future mindfulness-based empirical research.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the National Institute on Aging (F31- AG048697 to PJG, and F31-AG048692 to IAB) and the National Institute of Mental Health (T32-MH019927 to JRP).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have no financial interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 111-J Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA

    Paul J. Geiger, Ian A. Boggero, C. Alex Brake, Carolina A. Caldera, Hannah L. Combs & Ruth A. Baer

  2. Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Jessica R. Peters

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  1. Paul J. Geiger
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Geiger, P.J., Boggero, I.A., Brake, C.A. et al. Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Older Adults: a Review of the Effects on Physical and Emotional Well-Being. Mindfulness 7, 296–307 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0444-1

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