Author: Garcia MC, Pompéia S, Hachul H, Kozasa EH, de Souza AA, Tufik S, Mello LE.
Affiliation: From the Departament of 1Psychobiology, 2Gynecology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 3Casa de Saúde Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, Brazil; 4Instituto do Cérebro, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; and 5Departament of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Conference/Journal: Menopause.
Date published: 2013 Jul 1
Other:
Word Count: 182
OBJECTIVE:
Mindfulness has been defined as being intentionally aware of internal and external experiences that occur at the present moment, without judgment. Techniques that develop mindfulness, such as meditation, have positive effects on reducing insomnia, a sleep disorder that is common both during and after menopause. Our aim was to establish whether postmenopausal women with insomnia are less mindful than postmenopausal women without sleep disorders.
METHODS:
Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 years who did not use hormone therapy were recruited for the study. The sample included 14 women with insomnia and 12 women without insomnia or any other sleep disorder. The groups were comparable in age, schooling, and anxiety level. To assess mindfulness, we used the validated Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and the attentiveness domain of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Expanded Form.
RESULTS:
Participants with insomnia were less mindful than healthy women. The level of mindfulness was able to discriminate the group with insomnia from the healthy group, with 71.4% accuracy.
CONCLUSIONS:
Postmenopausal women with insomnia are less mindful than women without insomnia. Mindfulness-based interventions, such as meditation, may be beneficial for postmenopausal insomnia.
PMID: 23820599