Research Project
MindWalk: A Mindful Walking Intervention for Older South Asian Family Caregivers of People with Cognitive Disabilities with Perceived Psychological Stress
MindWalk is a 12-week pilot randomized control trial (RCT) study exploring the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mindful walking intervention that combines physical activity and cognitive training to reduce psychological stress, enhance cognitive function, and increase self-efficacy among older South Asian family caregivers of individuals with cognitive disabilities.
- Principal Investigator
- Murthy, Sumithra
- Start Date
- 2023-06-01
- End Date
- 2025-05-31
- Research Area(s)
- Active Projects
- Aging
- Cultural Competency
- DHD Research
- Disability
- Health Disparities
- Health Promotion
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Minority Population Health
- Funding Source
- Midwest Roybal Center for Health Promotion and Translation, National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Abstract
Older family caregivers, ages 50 and older of people with cognitive disabilities often experience high levels of stress and psychological distress which can result in cognitive decline. Both physical activity (PA) and cognitive training (CT) have shown to improve cognitive function in older adults who experience cognitive function decline because of psychological stress. There are some activities such as South Asian martial arts and yoga, that the South Asian community is familiar with, however there seems to be limited research incorporating mindful walking as an activity combining PA and CT. Specifically, mindful walking is a technique to learn to be more present and focused on the here and now while engaged in the physical activity of walking. Older South Asian family caregivers experience elevated psychological stress and limited physical activity due to caregiving responsibilities and additional factors such as lack of access to services, cultural and linguistic barriers, stigma and discrimination. South Asian family caregivers are especially underserved and are a growing ethnic group in the US. However, there are no studies using this approach for this population. To address this gap, we are conducting a 12-week mindful walking intervention with 50 participants using a participatory research methodology in partnership with UIC’s Cognition Behavior and Mindfulness Clinic. The participants will be randomly and equally assigned to the intervention (n=25) and the control group (n=25). The intervention includes: 1) a mindful walking training followed by 2) a prescribed mindful walking regimen, 3) self-reporting of adherence to regimen by the participants using activity logbooks and use of a user-friendly PA tracker (Fitbit) for daily step count, and 4) personalized text messages with reminders and motivational messages for participants to do the mindful walking as prescribed including a weekly check-in call or text message for accountability. The primary aim of the proposed pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the protocol and intervention implementation. A secondary aim will evaluate the intervention to examine preliminary efficacy in reduction of psychological stress, improvement in cognitive function, increase in physical activity, and increased self-efficacy (self-efficacy for coping with stress, self-efficacy for physical activity, and overall self-efficacy).