Meditation, Well-being, and the Brain: The Latest Research News
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As our global population continues to age, the importance of understanding how to support human flourishing in later life cannot be overstated. With numerous challenges and complexities threatening our physical and psychological well-being, it’s essential to explore non-pharmacological approaches that can promote well-being. One such approach is meditation, which has been shown to have a positive impact on our brain and overall well-being.
Caption: Meditation has been shown to have a positive impact on our brain and overall well-being.
A recent randomized, controlled clinical study co-led by University College London (UCL) scientists aimed to investigate the effects of long-term meditation on well-being in older adults. The 18-month trial, the longest of its kind, suggested that meditation can be a promising approach to support human flourishing in late life.
“It is increasingly crucial to understand how we can support older adults in maintaining and deepening their psychological well-being,” said Dr. Marco Schlosser, honorary research fellow at UCL’s Division of Psychiatry and the study’s lead author.
Can Mindfulness Improve Emotion Regulation and Sleep Quality?
Mindfulness has been linked to improved sleep, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) sought to explore this further, focusing on employee well-being and drawing from the theory of emotion regulation.
Caption: Mindfulness has been linked to improved sleep.
The study, published in Health Psychology, followed two independent cohorts of nurses over two weeks in the United States. Nurses were selected as the study population due to their high-stress environments and disrupted sleep patterns.
“We know that good sleep restores us physically and psychologically, and it keeps us happier, safer, and even more ethical at work. We wanted to explore which aspects of sleep are influenced by mindfulness and why,” said Dr. Claire Smith, assistant professor of psychology at USF.
A Single Mindfulness Session Reduces Anxiety and Depression, but Not Loneliness
Research has shown that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can be effective in helping individuals manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, a key barrier to the study of MBIs and their clinical implementation is time – they typically require several weeks of commitment from participants to complete.
Caption: Mindfulness-based interventions can be effective in managing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Professor Michael J Telch and colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin recently devised a mindfulness-based single-session intervention (SSI), designed to overcome this barrier and improve the accessibility of MBIs.
This study highlights the potential of mindfulness-based approaches in promoting well-being and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. As we continue to grapple with the challenges of an aging population, it’s essential to explore innovative, non-pharmacological approaches that can support human flourishing in later life.
Caption: The importance of understanding how to support human flourishing in later life cannot be overstated.
