Effects of Meditation on Mental Health and Cardiovascular Balance in Caregivers
Author: 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
Affiliation:
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.
Conference/Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health
Date published: 2021 Jan 13
Other:
Volume ID: 18 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: E617 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020617. , Word Count: 218
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.
Keywords: high-burden caregivers; meditation; mental health; vagal nerve activity.
PMID: 33450831 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020617
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