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Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Activities on Family Caregiver Burden in Patients With Dementia—A Pilot Study
Jala Sireesha, Jayasree Manukinda, Sudhindra Vooturi, Sai Sirisha, Shanmukhi Somayajula, Sita Jayalakshmi. Home Healthcare Now, 2026-03-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Progressive functional decline and behavioral disturbances in people with dementia place sustained emotional and practical demands on family caregivers, often resulting in chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and a high perceived caregiving burden. This pilot study examined the effects of an 8-week online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on psychological burden and well-being among family caregivers of people with dementia. Data from 39 caregivers (78.0%) who completed the intervention were analyzed. Participants had a mean age of 53.18 ± 13.33 years, with 30.8% being men; 61.5% were adult children and 38.5% were spouses or siblings of the person with dementia. At baseline, more than half of the caregivers (53.8%) reported moderate to severe psychological distress. Following the intervention, caregivers demonstrated significant improvements, including reduced perceived burden, lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and improved functional engagement. These findings indicate that online MBSR is a feasible and accessible intervention that may meaningfully reduce psychological burden among family caregivers of people with dementia. Given its virtual delivery and low resource requirements, MBSR has the potential to be integrated into routine caregiver support services, particularly for those with limited access to in-person interventions. Further research involving larger and more diverse caregiver populations is needed to confirm the durability of these benefits and to guide broader implementation.
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APA 7th
Sireesha, J., Manukinda, J., Vooturi, S., Sirisha, S., Somayajula, S., & Jayalakshmi, S. (2026). Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Activities on Family Caregiver Burden in Patients With Dementia—A Pilot Study. Home Healthcare Now. https://doi.org/10.1097/nhh.0000000000001426
Vancouver
Sireesha J, Manukinda J, Vooturi S, Sirisha S, Somayajula S, Jayalakshmi S. Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Activities on Family Caregiver Burden in Patients With Dementia—A Pilot Study. Home Healthcare Now. 2026. doi:10.1097/nhh.0000000000001426. PMID: 41766096.
BibTeX
@article{sireesha2026-41766096,
author = {Sireesha, Jala and Manukinda, Jayasree and Vooturi, Sudhindra and Sirisha, Sai and Somayajula, Shanmukhi and Jayalakshmi, Sita},
title = {{Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Activities on Family Caregiver Burden in Patients With Dementia—A Pilot Study}},
journal = {Home Healthcare Now},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1097/nhh.0000000000001426},
pmid = {41766096},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/nhh.0000000000001426}
}
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Key findings
- Following the intervention, caregivers demonstrated significant improvements, including reduced perceived burden, lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and improved functional engagement.
- These findings indicate that online MBSR is a feasible and accessible intervention that may meaningfully reduce psychological burden among family caregivers of people with dementia.
Why it matters
In this pilot study, an 8-week online mindfulness program reduced perceived burden, depression, anxiety, and stress among family caregivers of people with dementia. The findings suggest online MBSR is feasible and accessible, though further research is needed.
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Study details
- Effect size78.0%; 30.8%; 61.5%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 34/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Home Healthcare Now) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Home Healthcare Now: journal h-index 46 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Sita Jayalakshmi: h-index 20 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences: institution h-index 63 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41766096) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 34 / 100 | — |
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