Mind-Body Practice and Family Caregivers’ Subjective Well-Being: Findings From the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study

Abstract

Objectives: Informal caregiving has been associated with higher stress and lower levels of subjective well-being. Mind-body practices including yoga, tai chi, and Pilates also incorporate stress reducing activities. The current study aimed to examine the association between mind-body practice and subjective well-being among informal family caregivers. Methods: A sample of informal caregivers were identified in the Midlife in the United States study (N = 506, M ± SDage = 56 ± 11, 67% women). We coded mind-body practice into three categories, including regular practice (participating in one or more of them “a lot” or “often”), irregular (participating “sometimes” and “rarely”) and no practice (“never”). Subjective well-being was measured using the 5-item global life satisfaction scale and the 9-item mindfulness scale. We used multiple linear regression models to examine associations between mind-body practice and caregivers’ subjective well-being, controlling for covariates of sociodemographic factors, health, functional status, and caregiving characteristics. Results: Regular practice was associated with both better mindfulness-related well-being (b = 2.26, p