Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation and Exercise for the Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection : Possible Mechanisms of Action

Joint Authors

Ewers, Tola
Barrett, Bruce
Barlow, Shari
Obasi, Chidi N.
Brown, Roger
Muller, Daniel
Zgierska, Aleksandra
Gassman, Michele

Source

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Issue

Vol. 2013, Issue 2013 (31 Dec. 2013), pp.1-14, 14 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2013-09-29

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

14

Main Subjects

Medicine

Abstract EN

Background.

A randomized trial suggests that meditation and exercise may prevent acute respiratory infection (ARI).

This paper explores potential mediating mechanisms.

Methods.

Community-recruited adults were randomly assigned to three nonblinded arms: 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (N=51), moderate-intensity exercise (N=51), or wait-list control (N=52).

Primary outcomes were ARI illness burden (validated Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey).

Potential mediators included self-reported psychophysical health and exercise intensity (baseline, 9 weeks, and 3 months).

A Baron and Kenny approach-based mediational analysis model, adjusted for group status, age, and gender, evaluated the relationship between the primary outcome and a potential mediator using zero-inflated modeling and Sobel testing.

Results.

Of 154 randomized, 149 completed the trial (51, 47, and 51 in meditation, exercise, and control groups) and were analyzed (82% female, 94% Caucasian, 59.3 ± SD 6.6 years old).

Mediational analyses suggested that improved mindfulness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale) at 3 months may mediate intervention effects on ARI severity and duration (P<0.05); 1 point increase in the mindfulness score corresponded to a shortened ARI duration by 7.2–9.6 hours.

Conclusions.

Meditation and exercise may decrease the ARI illness burden through increased mindfulness.

These preliminary findings need confirmation, if confirmed, they would have important policy and clinical implications.

This trial registration was Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01057771.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Zgierska, Aleksandra& Obasi, Chidi N.& Brown, Roger& Ewers, Tola& Muller, Daniel& Gassman, Michele…[et al.]. 2013. Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation and Exercise for the Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection : Possible Mechanisms of Action. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-14.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-510983

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Zgierska, Aleksandra…[et al.]. Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation and Exercise for the Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection : Possible Mechanisms of Action. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2013 (2013), pp.1-14.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-510983

American Medical Association (AMA)

Zgierska, Aleksandra& Obasi, Chidi N.& Brown, Roger& Ewers, Tola& Muller, Daniel& Gassman, Michele…[et al.]. Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation and Exercise for the Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection : Possible Mechanisms of Action. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013. Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-14.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-510983

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-510983