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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2023
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Health Education
First Advisor
Mariane Fahlman
Abstract
ABSTRACTOLDER ADULTS’ MINDFUL REFLECTIONS ON PERCEIVED HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE by HEATHER MICHELE LADANYI DECEMBER 2023 The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived-experiences of community dwelling older adults in a mindfulness-based meditation and journaling intervention and the impacts on mindful attention, worry and anxiety, as associated with perceived quality of life. The interventions development was guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) alongside Stokols Social Ecological Model for Health Promotion (SEMHP), both theories take into consideration the multiple levels of influence which impact behavior change. Looking at health related quality of life from both the individual level as well as taking a broad perspective reveals the multiple levels of influence upon one’s health and the inextricable impact that it exudes upon overall quality of life. The study focused on understanding the essence of participants' experience with the mindfulness training and its impact on overall quality of life by answering the following questions: “Do participants experience enhanced mindful attention? Does this perceived enhancement in mindful attention positively contribute to perceived improvements in quality of life in older adults? Do participants experience a perceived decrease in worry symptoms? How is that experience associated with mindful attention and quality of life? Do participants experience a decrease in perceived measures of stress pre-mindfulness intervention to post-mindfulness intervention participation? If so, does this perceived decrease in stress enhance participants’ mindful attention? Does a decrease in experiencing stress-related symptoms have a positive association with perceptions on overall quality of life?” Data was collected from 26 participants across four sites. Criteria for inclusion required participants be over 60 and complete six of the twelve sessions. This study may offer greater insight into how to improve the quality of life of older adults.
Recommended Citation
Ladanyi, Heather Michelle, "Older Adults’ Mindful Reflections On Perceived Health Related Quality Of Life" (2023). Wayne State University Dissertations. 3953.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/3953