The Effects of Yoga versus Exercise on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Older Adults

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberlee Bethany Bonura ◽  
David Pargman

The present study investigates the effect of chair Yoga versus walking and chair aerobics on psychological health in older adult men and women. Participants (M age = 83; N = 42) were randomly assigned to one of four activity groups: chair Yoga, chair aerobics, walking, and social games (non-activity control group). Classes met for 30 minutes, 3 days per week, for 6 weeks. ANCOVAs revealed significant time by group interaction for stress frequency; the Yoga group showed the most stress reduction over time. Time by group interactions for the other variables (stress severity, depression, and anxiety) were nonsignificant, although Yoga participants experienced the most benefits over the course of the intervention. Replication with a larger sample size is warranted in order to better understand the impact of Yoga on psychological health in older adults.

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A. Young ◽  
Michael J. Baime

Objectives: Mindfulness training may help seniors successfully manage the physical and psychological challenges of aging in a manner that reduces distress and promotes vitality. The purpose of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on mood states in older adults. Methods: The authors identified 141 older adults (>60 years) who completed MBSR training. All participants completed the Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS-SF) at baseline and following 8 weeks of MBSR. Using paired t tests, the authors evaluated changes in mood following training in MBSR. In a subset analysis, the authors further examined the impact of MBSR training in individuals with the highest scores on depression and anxiety. Primary reasons cited for MBSR enrollment are also reported. Results: Overall emotional distress and all sub-scale mood measurements improved significantly following MBSR training. MBSR training resulted in >50% reduction in the number of older people reporting clinically significant depression and anxiety. Most enrolled in MBSR training to improve stress management skills. Discussion: MBSR training is a promising, group-based intervention for decreasing psychological distress in older adults. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm study findings.


2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Irwin ◽  
Jennifer Pike ◽  
Michael Oxman

Both the incidence and severity of herpes zoster (HZ) or shingles increase markedly with increasing age in association with a decline in varicella zoster virus (VZV)-specific immunity. Considerable evidence shows that behavioral stressors, prevalent in older adults, correlate with impairments of cellular immunity. Moreover, the presence of depressive symptoms in older adults is associated with declines in VZV-responder cell frequency (VZV-RCF), an immunological marker of shingles risk. In this review, we discuss recent findings that administration of a relaxation response-based intervention,tai chi chih(TCC), results in improvements in health functioning and immunity to VZV in older adults as compared with a control group. TCC is a slow moving meditation consisting of 20 separate standardized movements which can be readily used in elderly and medically compromised individuals. TCC offers standardized training and practice schedules, lending an important advantage over prior relaxation response-based therapies. Focus on older adults at increased risk for HZ and assay of VZV-specific immunity have implications for understanding the impact of behavioral factors and a behavioral intervention on a clinically relevant end-point and on the response of the immune system to infectious pathogens.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Sloan

As the Internet plays an increasing role in lives of adolescents, there has been a rise in the number of youth solicited online by adult men for sexual purposes. As a result, thes e adolescentsface significant and unique physical, social, and psychological health risks, which are poorly understood. To date, there is limited qualitative literature that tells the story of Internet sexual exploitation as experienced by female adolescents, or the impact of it. Beginning with the perspectives of female adolescents, the purpose of this research is to investigate the complexities, impacts, and implications of Internet Sexual Exploitation. Using Interpretive Description and guided by Feminist Theory, retrospective chart reviews of five young women were conducted. Thematic findings included feelings, risk factors, grooming experiences, and contextual features. Understanding the experience of females involved in Internet Sexual Exploitation allows healthcare providers to develop and deliver high quality services tailored to their needs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S45-S45
Author(s):  
Courtney J Bolstad ◽  
Anisha L Thomas ◽  
Michael R Nadorff

Abstract Symptoms of insomnia are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults, yet less is known about the impact of specific forms of insomnia (i.e. onset, maintenance, and terminal insomnia). We explored how insomnia type predicted symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults (n = 133; mean age 69, range 65-89). We hypothesized that onset and maintenance insomnia would have stronger relations to depression and anxiety than terminal insomnia. Regression analyses indicated that onset insomnia was the only significant predictor of anxiety symptoms, and maintenance was the only significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Thus, our findings suggest that despite overlap between depression and anxiety, insomnia may have different mechanisms of affecting each disorder. Implications for the treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms by addressing insomnia problems will be discussed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle V. Shelov ◽  
Sonia Suchday ◽  
Jennifer P. Friedberg

Background: The current study examined whether yoga would increase levels of mindfulness in a healthy population. Method: Forty-six participants were randomly assigned to an 8-week yoga intervention group or a wait-list control group. Mindfulness was assessed pre and post yoga, using the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI). Results: Results indicate that the yoga group experienced a significant increase in Overall mindfulness, and in three mindfulness subscales; Attention to the present moment, Accepting and open attitudes toward experience, and Insightful understanding (p < .01). The control group experienced a significant increase in overall mindfulness (p < .02) and insightful understanding (p < .01). Findings suggest that a yoga intervention may be a viable method for increasing levels of trait mindfulness in a healthy population, potentially implicating yoga as a preventive method for the later development of negative emotional mood states (i.e. anxiety and depression). The control group also experienced moderate elevations of mindfulness at the second assessment.


Author(s):  
Jerónimo J. González-Bernal ◽  
Maha Jahouh ◽  
Josefa González-Santos ◽  
Juan Mielgo-Ayuso ◽  
Diego Fernández-Lázaro ◽  
...  

Aging is a multifactorial physiological phenomenon in which cellular and molecular changes occur. These changes lead to poor locomotion, poor balance, and an increased falling risk. This study aimed to determine the impact and effectiveness of the use of the Wii® game console on improving walking speed and balance, as well as its influence on frailty levels and falling risk, in older adults. A longitudinal study was designed with a pretest/post-test structure. The study population comprised people over 75 years of age who lived in a nursing home or attended a day care center (n = 80; 45 women; 84.2 ± 8.7 years). Forty of them were included in the Wii group (20 rehabilitation sessions during 8 consecutive weeks), and the other 40 were in the control group. Falling risk and frailty were evaluated using the Downton scale and Fried scale; balance and walking speed were assessed with the Berg Balance scale and the Gait Speed Test, respectively, as well as the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The results showed that there was no significant association between Frailty Phenotype and study groups in baseline. However, there was significant association between Frailty Phenotype and study groups at the end of study. Moreover, a significantly higher and negative percentage change (Δ) in the Wii group with respect to the control group on the in falling risk (−20.05 ± 35.14% vs. 7.92 ± 24.53%) and in walking speed (−6.42 ± 8.83% vs. −0.12 ± 4.51%) during study, while there was a higher and positive significant percent change in static balance (6.07 ± 5.74% vs. 2.13 ± 4.64%) and on the SPPB (20.28 ± 20.05% vs. 0.71 ± 7.99%) after 8 weeks of study. The main conclusion of this study was that the use of the Wii® video console for 8 weeks positively influenced walking speed, falling risk, static balance, and frailty levels in older adults. Through a rehabilitation program with the Wii® game console in the older adults, frailty levels are reduced, accompanied by a reduction in falling risk and an increase in static balance and walking speed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley A. Ross ◽  
Briana N. Sprague ◽  
Christine B. Phillips ◽  
Melissa L. O’Connor ◽  
Joan E. Dodson

Objective: Physical functioning is closely associated with cognition. The current study assessed the impact of three cognitive training programs on objective measures of physical functioning across 5 years. Method: Older adults randomized to a processing speed ( n = 702), reasoning ( n = 694), or memory ( n = 703) training intervention were compared with those randomized to a no-contact control condition ( n = 698). Intention-to-treat (ITT) and treatment-received/dosage (time-varying number of training sessions) analyses were conducted. Results: There were no transfer effects in the ITT analyses. Treatment-received models demonstrated that training sessions (i.e., higher dosage) across all intervention arms transferred to better maintained Digit Symbol Copy and Turn 360 performance relative to the control group. More reasoning training transferred to better grip strength. Discussion: This is the first study to demonstrate differential longitudinal cognitive training transfer effects to three performance-based physical functioning measures. Future research should investigate mechanisms of far-transfer effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 3848-3859
Author(s):  
Dr. Moudi Abdullah Amer Alajmi

The current study aimed to explore the effectiveness of using Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention on reducing teacher burnout of teachers of Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD).It is also aimed to investigate the impact of decreased teachers' burnout on enhancing the self-efficacy of those teachers. To achieve such goal, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention and Oldenburg teacher burnout inventory, and Self-efficacy Scale. The sample of the study consists of 32 teachers who teach autistic children in the Autistic Behavior School (ABS) in Jahraa district, in the State of Kuwait. They were divided into two groups; the experimental group including 15 ASD teachers and the control group that includes 17 teachers. Both quantitative and qualitative designs were used; the quasi-experimental research design has been adopted in this study to assess the improvement achieved by the experimental group compared with the control group as a result of using the MBSR intervention program. Also, semi-structured interviews have been held with certain teachers with a high level of burnout. Results of the study revealed statistically significant differences in the mean scores of experimental and control groups in favor of the experimental group. MBSR intervention was effective in alleviating teachers' burnout and enhancing their self-efficacy. Based on the study results, it is recommended that mindfulness strategies should be used to alleviate anxiety, depression, stress, and even burnout teachers experience due to their job especially those teaching children with disabilities and autism.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dona M. P. Jayakody ◽  
Osvaldo P. Almeida ◽  
Andrew H. Ford ◽  
Marcus D. Atlas ◽  
Nicola T. Lautenschlager ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Globally, about 50 million people were living with dementia in 2015, with this number projected to triple by 2050. With no cure or effective treatment currently insight, it is vital that factors are identified which will help prevent or delay both age-related and pathological cognitive decline and dementia. Observational data have suggested that hearing loss is a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia, but no conclusive evidence from randomised controlled trials is currently available. Methods The HearCog trial is a 24-month, randomised, controlled clinical trial aimed at determining whether a hearing loss intervention can delay or arrest the cognitive decline. We will randomise 180 older adults with hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment to a hearing aid or control group to determine if the fitting of hearing aids decreases the 12-month rate of cognitive decline compared with the control group. In addition, we will also determine if the expected clinical gains achieved after 12 months can be sustained over an additional 12 months and if losses experienced through the non-correction of hearing loss can be reversed with the fitting of hearing aids after 12 months. Discussion The trial will also explore the cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared to the control arm and the impact of hearing aids on anxiety, depression, physical health and quality of life. The results of this trial will clarify whether the systematic correction of hearing loss benefits cognition in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. We anticipate that our findings will have implications for clinical practice and health policy development. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR: 12618001278224), registered on 30.07.2018.


2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 1155-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley Leanos ◽  
Esra Kürüm ◽  
Carla M Strickland-Hughes ◽  
Annie S Ditta ◽  
Gianhu Nguyen ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The natural learning experience from infancy to emerging adulthood, when considerable cognitive and functional growth is observed, mandates learning multiple real-world skills simultaneously. The present studies investigated whether learning multiple real-world skills simultaneously is possible in older adults and also whether it improves both their cognitive abilities (working memory, episodic memory, and cognitive control) and functional independence. Method Over two studies (15 and 27 participants), older adults learned at least three new skills (e.g., Spanish, drawing, music composition) simultaneously for 3 months. Participants completed cognitive and functional assessments before, during, and after the intervention in both studies. Participants were recruited sequentially for an intervention or no-contact control group in Study 1, and Study 2 included only an intervention group, who also completed assessments 4–6 weeks prior to the start of the intervention (i.e., they served as their own control group). Results Results from both studies show that simultaneously learning multiple skills is feasible and potentially beneficial for healthy older adults. Learning multiple skills simultaneously increased cognitive abilities in older adults by midpoint of the intervention, to levels similar to performance in a separate sample of middle-aged adults, 30 years younger. Discussion Our findings demonstrate the feasibility and potential of conducting a real-world skill-learning intervention involving learning three novel skills with older adults. Our multiskill intervention may provide broad cognitive gains, akin to the benefits experienced earlier in the life span.


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