Mindfulness and meditation interventions in dementia : experiences, adaptations and effects of well-being

Adams, Jennifer

Abstract

This portfolio thesis consists of three parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical paper and a set of appendices. The thesis as a whole considers the effects of meditation-based interventions for people living with dementia and age-related cognitive impairments, and their caregiver on wellbeing, including their experiences of meditation-based interventions and appropriate adaptations to these interventions.

The first section is a systematic literature review that explores the domains of wellbeing which have been targeted and measured in studies of meditation-based interventions for people living with dementia and mild and subjective cognitive impairment, and the effects of these interventions. The review also considers the methodological quality of the evidence in this area. Fourteen papers were identified and synthesised using a narrative approach. The findings are discussed within the context of previous literature relating to meditation interventions for people living with dementia and age-related cognitive impairments. The clinical and research implications for these findings are also considered.

The second section is an empirical study that explores how dementia dyads experience and engage with an adapted mindfulness-based intervention and what the impact of this is on subjective wellbeing. The research used a qualitative method, gathering data using a Grounded Theory approach, which due to not meeting data saturation was analysed using Thematic Analysis. Four superordinate and 11 subordinate themes emerged from the data. The results of this analysis are discussed in the context of previous literature relating to mindfulness-based interventions for people living with dementia and their caregivers, previous adaptations, the impact of these interventions on dyadic wellbeing and dyadic conceptualisations of mindfulness. The clinical and research implications for these findings are also discussed.

The third section consists of a set of appendices which relate to the systematic literature review and empirical paper. Within these appendices are a reflective and epistemological statement, which includes the primary researcher’s reflections on the journey of these pieces of research, and the philosophical position and underlying assumptions of the research.

Citation

Adams, J. (2018). Mindfulness and meditation interventions in dementia : experiences, adaptations and effects of well-being. (Thesis). University of Hull. Retrieved from https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4220953

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 8, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Keywords: Clinical psychology
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4220953
• Additional Information: School of Health and Social Work, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Jun 1, 2018