Habib, NGM; (2016) The Effect of Age on the Underlying Abilities of Mindfulness Practice. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive control and acceptance are considered as two key underlying processes of mindfulness practice. Recent evidence has shown that increasing age is related to a decline in cognitive control and the enhancement of emotional regulation and, consequently, acceptance. However, the effect of age on both underlying processes has not been investigated within a sample of older adults and younger adults using clinically relevant measures. AIMS: To determine whether there is a difference in performance between an older adult group and a younger adult group on measures of the cognitive control/awareness and emotion regulation/acceptance elements of mindfulness. It hypothesised that older adult would perform worse that younger adults on measures of cognitive control and better on measure of emotion regulation/ acceptance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional between-groups design with one older adult group and one younger adult group. Measures were administrated in a face-to-face research interview. A total of 55 older healthy adults aged 65+ (M=72.5) and 55 younger healthy adults aged 18-25 (M= 21.30) were recruited from the community for participation. RESULTS: The results revealed that older adults performed better in mindfulness measures of cognitive control/awareness whereas younger adults performed better in mindfulness measures of emotion regulation/acceptance. CONCLUSION: Age might compromise the underlying processes of mindfulness practice. The results were discussed in light of available literature and with reference to limitations and clinical implications.

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