Lourdes Díaz-Rodríguez1,2, Keyla Vargas-Román1,3, Juan Carlos Sanchez-Garcia1,2, Raquel Rodríguez-Blanque1,4, Guillermo Arturo Cañadas-De la Fuente2, Emilia I De La Fuente-Solana5. 1. Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain. 2. Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. 3. Spanish Education Ministry Program FPU16/01437, Methodology of Behavioral Sciences Department, School of Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain. 4. San Cecilio University Hospital, 18016 Granada, Spain. 5. Methodology of Behavioral Sciences Department, School of Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but is also associated with substantial caregiver burden, developing mental outcomes and affecting happiness. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a four-week, 16-h presential meditation program on physiological and psychological parameters and vagal nerve activity in high-burden caregivers, as compared to a control group. METHODS: A non-randomized repeated-measures controlled clinical trial was conducted. RESULTS: According to the ANCOVA results, the global happiness score (F = 297.42, p < 0.001) and the scores for all subscales were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 5 weeks. Anxiety levels were also significantly reduced in the experimental group (F = 24.92, p < 0.001), systolic (F = 16.23, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood (F = 34.39, p < 0.001) pressures, and the resting heart rate (F = 17.90, p < 0.05). HRV results revealed significant between-group differences in the HRV Index (F = 8.40, p < 0.05), SDNN (F = 13.59, p < 0.05), and RMSSD (F = 10.72, p < 0.05) in the time domain, and HF (F = 4.82 p < 0.05)) in the frequency domain, which were all improved in the experimental group after the meditation program. CONCLUSIONS:Meditation can be a useful therapy to enhance the mental health and autonomic nervous system balance of informal caregivers, improving symptoms of physical and mental overload.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but is also associated with substantial caregiver burden, developing mental outcomes and affecting happiness. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a four-week, 16-h presential meditation program on physiological and psychological parameters and vagal nerve activity in high-burden caregivers, as compared to a control group. METHODS: A non-randomized repeated-measures controlled clinical trial was conducted. RESULTS: According to the ANCOVA results, the global happiness score (F = 297.42, p < 0.001) and the scores for all subscales were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 5 weeks. Anxiety levels were also significantly reduced in the experimental group (F = 24.92, p < 0.001), systolic (F = 16.23, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood (F = 34.39, p < 0.001) pressures, and the resting heart rate (F = 17.90, p < 0.05). HRV results revealed significant between-group differences in the HRV Index (F = 8.40, p < 0.05), SDNN (F = 13.59, p < 0.05), and RMSSD (F = 10.72, p < 0.05) in the time domain, and HF (F = 4.82 p < 0.05)) in the frequency domain, which were all improved in the experimental group after the meditation program. CONCLUSIONS: Meditation can be a useful therapy to enhance the mental health and autonomic nervous system balance of informal caregivers, improving symptoms of physical and mental overload.
Authors: Lourdes Díaz-Rodríguez; Antonio Manuel Fernández-Pérez; Noelia Galiano-Castillo; Irene Cantarero-Villanueva; Carolina Fernández-Lao; L M Martín-Martín; Manuel Arroyo-Morales Journal: Biol Res Nurs Date: 2016-04-11 Impact factor: 2.522
Authors: Seoyeon Kwak; So-Yeon Kim; Dahye Bae; Wu-Jeong Hwang; Kang Ik Kevin Cho; Kyung-Ok Lim; Hye-Yoon Park; Tae Young Lee; Jun Soo Kwon Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2020-02-07
Authors: Keyla Vargas-Román; Emilia I De la Fuente-Solana; Jonathan Cortés-Martín; Juan Carlos Sánchez-García; Christian J González-Vargas; Lourdes Díaz-Rodríguez Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-06-14 Impact factor: 4.964