A Classroom Mind/Body Wellness Intervention for Older Adults With Chronic Illness: Comparing Immediate and 1-Year Benefits

Abstract

The authors tested the efficacy of a mind/body wellness intervention for older adults with chronic illness. They randomly assigned 243 physician-referred patients from an urban HMO to a classroom intervention or a wait-list control group. The intervention provided instruction on mind/body relationships; relaxation training; cognitive restructuring; problem-solving; communication; and behavioral treatment for insomnia, nutrition, and exercise. At post-treatment, the intervention group had significant decreases in self-reported sleep difficulties, pain, anxiety, and depression symptoms compared with controls. The intervention also led to a significant decrease in “chance” and “powerful others” health locus of control beliefs. At 1-year follow-up, the intervention group maintained benefits in sleep and health locus of control and also reported a significant increase in health behaviors compared with controls. Pain, anxiety, and depression benefits were not maintained. This type of classroom intervention appears to have some lasting effects on health behaviors and beliefs.

Key Words:

• health behaviors
• insomnia
• locus of control
• mind/body wellness
• older persons
• pain

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Barry Fortner

Dr Rybarczyk is an associate professor in the Departments of Psychology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rush University, Chicago, where Dr DeLaCruz is an instructor in the Department of Family Medicine, and Mr Lapidos is the coordinator of the Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training Program. Dr Fortner is director of Psychology and Cancer Symptom Research at West Cancer Clinic in Memphis, and Dr DeMarco is staff psychologist at Community Health Center in Middletown, Connecticut.