Eudaimonia and sleep: Effects of a mindfulness intervention in caregivers of people with dementia

Unpaid, or informal, caregivers of dementia patients are more likely to experience heightened stress and a variety of adverse psychological and physical health outcomes as well as disturbed sleep. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to identify interventions that can promote psychological and physical well-being of caregivers. The overarching goal of this proposed study is to investigate the effect of an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in comparison to a relaxation-based stress reduction (RBSR) program on outcomes of well-being and sleep in caregivers of persons with dementia. This study is focused on understanding the effect of MBSR on a specific form of well-being, eudaimonic well-being, that concerns meaningfulness and flourishing in life, and are particularly salient outcomes among caregivers. Qualitative interviews will be conducted to probe more deeply into caregivers’ experience of eudaimonic well-being and of mindfulness and sleep. Results of this study will advance the science of mindfulness for caregiver stress by: Enhancing our theoretical understanding of the role mindfulness training plays in promoting positive caregiver outcomes, providing a foundation for future research examining effects of mindfulness training on dyadic caregiver-recipient outcomes, and promoting a young investigator whose career will focus on the contemplative sciences.