@misc{10481/66787,
year = {2021},
month = {1},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10481/66787},
abstract = {Background: Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but is also associated with substantial
caregiver burden, developing mental outcomes and affecting happiness. The aim of this study
was to determine the effects of a four-week, 16-h presential meditation program on physiological
and psychological parameters and vagal nerve activity in high-burden caregivers, as compared
to a control group. Methods: A non-randomized repeated-measures controlled clinical trial was
conducted. Results: According to the ANCOVA results, the global happiness score (F = 297.42,
p < 0.001) and the scores for all subscales were significantly higher in the experimental group than in
the control group at 5 weeks. Anxiety levels were also significantly reduced in the experimental group
(F = 24.92, p < 0.001), systolic (F = 16.23, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood (F = 34.39, p < 0.001) pressures,
and the resting heart rate (F = 17.90, p < 0.05). HRV results revealed significant between-group
differences in the HRV Index (F = 8.40, p < 0.05), SDNN (F = 13.59, p < 0.05), and RMSSD (F = 10.72,
p < 0.05) in the time domain, and HF (F = 4.82 p < 0.05)) in the frequency domain, which were all
improved in the experimental group after the meditation program. Conclusions: Meditation can be
a useful therapy to enhance the mental health and autonomic nervous system balance of informal
caregivers, improving symptoms of physical and mental overload.},
publisher = {Mdpi},
keywords = {Meditation},
keywords = {Vagal nerve activity},
keywords = {High-burden caregivers},
keywords = {Mental health},
title = {Effects of Meditation on Mental Health and Cardiovascular Balance in Caregivers},
doi = {10.3390/ijerph18020617},
author = {Díaz Rodríguez, Consuelo Lourdes and Vargas Román, Keyla and Sánchez García, Juan Carlos and Rodríguez Blanque, Raquel and Cañadas De La Fuente, Guillermo Arturo and Fuente Solana, Emilia I. De La},
}