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Mindful Learning Improves Positive Feelings of Cancer Patients’ Family Caregivers

Author

Listed:
  • Liuna Geng

    (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Jian Wang

    (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Liping Cheng

    (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Binbin Zhang

    (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Hui Shen

    (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China)

Abstract

Positive feelings are an important health dimension for family caregivers of cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Langerian mindfulness is a valid proactive method to increase the positive feelings of family caregivers for cancer patients. Participants were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness group or a mindlessness group and completed the Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) as a measure of caregivers’ feelings before the intervention. Subsequently, both groups were given four sessions of mindfulness training using “innovation classification”. Finally, participants completed the Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS) and the Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC) scale as post-intervention measures. The results revealed that participants in the mindfulness and mindlessness groups differed significantly in LMS and PAC scores, with the mindfulness group having higher levels of positive feelings than those in the mindlessness group. The results also indicated that mindfulness level significantly predicted positive feelings of caregivers. Thus mindful interventions may play a meaningful role in promoting family caregivers’ spirituality and faith, improving the willingness of sharing their thoughts, beliefs, and grief, which could be useful for increasing the positive feelings of caregivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Liuna Geng & Jian Wang & Liping Cheng & Binbin Zhang & Hui Shen, 2019. "Mindful Learning Improves Positive Feelings of Cancer Patients’ Family Caregivers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-9, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:2:p:248-:d:198239
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marta Ramos-Campos & Rosa Redolat & Patricia Mesa-Gresa, 2020. "The Mediational Role of Burden and Perceived Stress in Subjective Memory Complaints in Informal Cancer Caregivers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-15, March.

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