Increased ‘mindfulness’ means life gets better with age, scientists say

Life really does get better with age: Older people are more ‘mindful’ allowing them focus on the present – reducing stress and helping them deal with challenges in a positive way

  • Australian researchers surveyed more than 600 adults and their ‘mindfulness’
  • Mindful characteristics include present moment attention and non-judgement
  • This crucial quality may naturally come with time and life experience, they claim 
  • The study authors suggest mindfulness apps like Insight Timer and Smiling Mind
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

Middle-aged and elderly people have higher levels of ‘mindfulness’ gained through life experience, reducing stress and generating positive emotions, a study finds.  

Australian researchers who studied more than 600 adults aged 18 to 86 found older people have the wisdom and experience to use mindfulness to get through life. 

Mindfulness is a ‘natural human ability to be aware of one’s experiences’ and use them to deal with challenges in a positive way. 

This positive quality, in turn, leads to better emotional wellbeing, the behavioural scientists say.

Such a quality is vital for those who need to adapt to both the physical and mental challenges of growing old, especially during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. 

For younger people and anyone else who find maintaining mindfulness difficult, the researchers suggest apps such as Headspace, Insight Timer and Smiling Mind. 

According to the researchers, mindfulness refers to the ‘natural human ability to be aware of one’s experiences’ and to pay attention to the present moment in a ‘purposeful, receptive, and non-judgmental way’

‘The significance of mindfulness for wellbeing may also increase as we get older, in particular the ability to focus on the present moment and to approach experiences in a non-judgmental way,’ said Professor Tim Windsor, behavioural scientist at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia.

‘MINDFULNESS’ CHARACTERISTICS 

Participants completed questionnaire measures of mindful characteristics.

These can be defined as follows:

Present-moment attention: The ability to give one’s attention to the present.

– Non-judgement: Rather than not judging, this is defined as the ability to change our relationship with our judgements. 

– Interoception: Maintaining a a sense of the internal state of the body.

– Acceptance: The ability to accept the reality of a situation. 

– Non-attachment: The ability to progress through life without consistent attachment to things, people or concepts.

– Decentering: The ability to not be at the centre of one’s thoughts and desires. 

‘These characteristics are helpful in adapting to age-related challenges and in generating positive emotions.’ 

The 623 adult participants completed an online questionnaire that measured ‘mindful’ characteristics, such as attention levels during the present moment, acceptance, non-attachment, non-judgement and decentering – the ability to not be at the centre of one’s thoughts and desires. 

Middle aged to elderly respondents showed such qualities more than the younger participants, they found. 

Links between present-moment attention and well-being, as well as non-judgemental attitudes and well-being, were significant in adults from around 40 years of age and older.  

‘The ability to appreciate the temporary nature of personal experiences may be particularly important for the way people manage their day-to-day goals across the second half of life,’ said lead study author Leeann Mahlo. 

‘We found that positive relationships between aspects of mindfulness and wellbeing became stronger from middle age onwards.

The tendency to focus on the present-moment and adopt a nonjudgmental orientation may become especially important for well-being in older age

The tendency to focus on the present-moment and adopt a nonjudgmental orientation may become especially important for well-being in older age

‘Our findings suggest that if mindfulness has particular benefits in later life, this could be translated into tailored training approaches to enhanced wellbeing in older populations.’ 

The study authors say certain characteristics of mindfulness seem more strongly evident in older people compared to younger people – and suggest ways for all ages to benefit. 

Tips to improve mindfulness including becoming aware of one’s thoughts and surroundings and paying attention to the present ‘in an open and non-judgemental way’. 

Mindfulness could be especially important during the coronavirus pandemic as more people are consigned within four walls for longer periods

Mindfulness could be especially important during the coronavirus pandemic as more people are consigned within four walls for longer periods

These tips could help youngsters to stop focusing on the past or worrying about the future, according to the researchers.

They could be particularly beneficial during the global coronavirus pandemic, allowing people to respond in a more positive way to challenging circumstances. 

There are also programmes and techniques via apps which have been developed to improve mindfulness, the authors say, which may help during the current crisis.   

The researchers in particular flagged Insight Timer, a meditation app that includes a free library of guided meditations, and Smiling Mind, which details users’ daily meditation and mindfulness exercises and links with Google Home. 

The study has been published in the journal Ageing and Mental Health.  

TIPS TO DEVELOP MINDFULNESS 

 Flinders University researchers’ tips to develop mindful techniques include:

– Becoming aware of our thoughts and surroundings and paying attention to the present moment in an open and nonjudgmental way. This can prevent us from focusing on the past or worrying about the future in unhelpful ways.

– Understanding that our thoughts, feelings and situations exist in the moment and will not last. 

This can help us to respond in flexible, more optimistic ways to challenging circumstances, including those that we are facing with concerns related to the COVID-19 disease.

– Finding out more about mindfulness via app-based programs such as Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, Smiling Mind, and Stop, Breathe & Think. 

These are available for use on computers or smartphones and offer flexible ways of learning and practising mindfulness – including for people now spending more time at home.