Faculty Opinions recommendation of Neurobiological effects of perceived stress are different between adolescents and middle-aged adults.

BACKGROUND Middle-aged adults (40 to 65 years) report higher stress than most age groups. There is a need to test the feasibility of using a meditation app to reduce stress and improve stress-related outcomes in both middle-aged men and women. OBJECTIVE Therefore, the purpose of this study was to: (1) determine the feasibility (i.e., acceptability and demand) of a consumer-based meditation app (i.e., Calm) to reduce stress in middle-aged adults reporting elevated stress; and (2) explore the preliminary effects of Calm on perceived stress, psychological outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depressive symptoms, mindfulness, general coping), health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, eating habits), and perceptions of COVID-19. METHODS The current study is a double-blind randomized controlled feasibility study testing a brief app-based meditation (i.e., Calm) intervention in middle-aged adults (N=83) with elevated stress levels (i.e., score greater than or equal to 15 on the Perceived Stress Scale) and limited or no previous experience with meditation. Participants were randomized to an app-based meditation intervention (Calm) or app-based education control group (POD). Participants completed self-report assessments at baseline and post-intervention (Week 4). Feasibility was measured as acceptability and demand using Bowen’s framework. Feasibility and COVID-19 perceptions data were examined via descriptive statistics. Preliminary effects were examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Participants were satisfied with the meditation intervention (96.4%; 27/28) and found it appropriate/useful (92.9%; 26/28). Most reported that they were likely to continue using Calm in the future (64.3%; 18/28). More participants in the Calm group reported satisfaction, appropriateness/usefulness, and intent to continue use compared to the control. Calm participants (n=33) averaged 20.0±31.1 minutes of meditation on the days they meditated and 103±109.1 minutes of meditation per week during the study. On average there was a 70.8% adherence rate to the prescribed meditation, compared to 62.2% in POD. Recruitment of men into the study was 34.9% (29/83). Of those randomized to Calm, 55.2% (15/29) were men. Retention among men was 93.3% (14/15) compared to 60% (12/20) for women. No significant within or between group differences in stress or psychological outcomes related to stress were observed nor were significant differences in health behaviors related to stress. CONCLUSIONS A four-week, app-based mindfulness meditation intervention (i.e., Calm) may be feasible in middle-aged adults. Calm participants expressed satisfaction with the intervention and felt it was appropriate and useful. However, significant improvements in perceived stress and psychological outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depressive symptoms, mindfulness and general coping) or health behaviors related to stress (i.e., physical activity, eating habits) were not observed. The majority of participants reported that COVID-19 negatively impacted their stress, mental health, and physical health. More research is needed for improving stress and stress related outcomes in middle-aged men and women using mindfulness meditation apps. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04272138; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04272138.

Download Full-text

P2-547: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED STRESS, STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS AND COGNITION IN A SAMPLE OF MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS FROM THE HEALTHY BRAIN PROJECT

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.2955 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

pp. P830-P830

Author(s):

Lisa Bransby ◽

Rachel F. Buckley ◽

Nawaf Yassi ◽

Yen Ying Ying Lim ◽

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Middle Aged Adults ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Core Self-Evaluations, Perceived Stress and Life Satisfaction in Spanish Young and Middle-Aged Adults: An Examination of Mediation and Moderation Effects

Social Indicators Research ◽

10.1007/s11205-014-0601-2 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 120 (2) ◽

pp. 515-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Lourdes Rey ◽

Natalio Extremera

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Moderation Effects ◽

Middle Aged Adults ◽

Core Self ◽

Mediation And Moderation

Download Full-text

Creative Hobbies as a Protective Factor Against Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 14-14

Author(s):

Sarah Israel ◽

Darby Mackenstadt ◽

Carolyn Adams-Price

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Health Anxiety ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Moderation Effect ◽

Middle Aged Adults ◽

High Degree

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted our way of life, leading to increased rates of anxiety and depression (Panchal et al., 2021). The implications may be worse for older adults who account for 80% of all COVID deaths (Freed et al., 2020). Meanwhile, prior to the pandemic, Adams-Price and colleagues (2018) found that creative hobby participation provided slightly different benefits for middle-aged and older adults. Specifically, evidence suggested that middle-aged adults may use their creative hobby more for stress relief than older adults. Using a sample of 239 women, aged 40 to 84 years old (M = 59.7), we examined whether the degree to which viewing one’s creative hobby as a component of one’s identity related to perceived stress, health anxiety, and depressive symptoms. In addition, we wanted to know whether these relationships were moderated by age. Single moderation models suggest that viewing one’s creative hobby as a part of their identity was related to higher health anxiety and reporting more depressive symptoms. In addition, age was related to reporting lower perceived stress, health anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Lastly, age provided a significant moderation effect to the relationship between degree of identity associated with one’s creative hobby and perceived stress such that middle-aged adults with a high degree of identification with their creative hobby reported the most perceived stress while older adults with a high degree of identification with their creative hobby reported the least perceived stress. Implications for older adult’s well-being and adaptiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed.

Download Full-text

Acute Effects of Tai Chi Training on Cognitive and Cardiovascular Responses in Late Middle-Aged Adults: A Pilot Study

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2018/7575123 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tiffany C. Y. Cheung ◽

Karen P. Y. Liu ◽

Janet Y. H. Wong ◽

Young-Hyeon Bae ◽

Stanley Sai-Chuen Hui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Skin Temperature ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stress Level ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Cardiovascular Responses ◽

Blood Oxygenation ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Middle Aged Adults ◽

Palmar Skin

This study explored the immediate effects of Tai Chi (TC) training on attention and meditation, perceived stress level, heart rate, oxygen saturation level in blood, and palmar skin temperature in late middle-aged adults. Twenty TC practitioners and 20 nonpractitioners volunteered to join the study. After baseline measurements were taken, the TC group performed TC for 10 minutes while their cognitive states and cardiovascular responses were concurrently monitored. The control group rested for the same duration in a standing position. Both groups were then reassessed. The participants’ attention and meditation levels were measured using electroencephalography; stress levels were measured using Perceived Stress Scale; heart rate and blood oxygenation were measured using an oximeter; and palmar skin temperature was measured using an infrared thermometer. Attention level tended to increase during TC and dropped immediately thereafter (p<0.001). Perceived stress level decreased from baseline to posttest in exclusively the TC group (p=0.005). Heart rate increased during TC (p<0.001) and decreased thereafter (p=0.001). No significant group, time, or group-by-time interaction effects were found in the meditation level, palmar skin temperature, and blood oxygenation outcomes. While a 10-minute TC training could temporarily improve attention and decrease perceived stress levels, it could not improve meditation, palmar skin temperature, or blood oxygenation among late middle-aged adults.

Download Full-text