Life may get better with age with mindfulness, as older people have the wisdom and time to use mindfulness as a means to improve overall well-being, according to a new study.
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 manner.
Using mindful techniques may play an important role in reducing stress and promoting positive psychological outcomes, the study said.
According to the researchers, certain features of mindfulness appear to be more prevalent in older people than in younger people — pointing to ways that all ages can benefit.
“This suggests that mindfulness can develop naturally with time and life experience,” said study co-author Tim Windsor of Flinders University in Australia.
The recent study, published in the journal Aging and Mental Health, is based on an online survey of 623 participants between the ages of 18 and 86.
“The significance of mindfulness for well-being may also increase as we age, particularly the ability to focus on the present moment and approach experiences in a non-judgmental way,” Windsor said.
“These characteristics are helpful in adapting to age-related challenges and eliciting positive emotions,” Windsor added.
From middle to old age, the research highlights a tendency to focus on the present moment and adopt a non-judgmental orientation, which can become especially important for well-being with age.
For the findings, the researchers assessed the participants’ attentive qualities, such as attention in the present moment, acceptance, non-attachment, and examined the relationships of these qualities with well-being in general.
“The ability to appreciate the temporary nature of personal experiences may be particularly important for how people manage their daily goals in the second half of life,” said lead author Leeann Mahlo.
The researchers found that positive relationships between aspects of mindfulness and well-being became stronger from middle age.
“Our findings suggest that if mindfulness has certain benefits in later life, this could be translated into tailored training approaches to improve well-being in older populations,” she said.
Mindfulness skills can help build well-being at any age, the study said.
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