The three chapters of this thesis are united under a common theme of exploring mindfulness, specifically with reference to older people. Chapter one: The systematic literature review critically evaluates the evidence for mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for use with older adults (aged 60 years and older). 12 articles met pre-specified criteria for inclusion. In studies of relatively healthy, high functioning older adults, there were few benefits observed. For samples of older people with clinical levels of mood and physical health difficulty, benefits were observed in some studies across a range of psychosocial domains. The present review indicates that MBSR is both a viable and a feasible approach for use with older people. As methodological concerns were evident, further research could usefully build upon this initial evidence-base. Chapter two: The empirical paper was a cross-sectional survey of community dwelling, English-speaking younger adults aged 18-34 years (n = 162) and older adults aged 65-93 years (n = 134), using a group difference design. In accordance with initial hypotheses and theories of lifespan development, the present findings indicated higher levels of dispositional mindfulness, affect and well-being for older adults, compared to younger adults. Future research and clinical implications are discussed. This may inform the development of age-appropriate mindfulness interventions. Chapter three: In the reflective paper, I share my experiences of conducting research with people in later life and of researching the topic of mindfulness. I then provide a reflective and reflexive account of the stages of research and go on to discuss implications for my professional and personal development.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:632918 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Thompson, Jennifer |
| Publisher | University of Warwick |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/65213/ |
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