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Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial
Whitebird RR, Kreitzer M, Crain AL, Lewis BA, Hanson LR, Enstad CJ.. The Gerontologist, 2012-10-15
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Purpose Caring for a family member with dementia is associated with chronic stress, which can have significant deleterious effects on caregivers. The purpose of the Balance Study was to compare a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention to a community caregiver education and support (CCES) intervention for family caregivers of people with dementia. Design and methods We randomly assigned 78 family caregivers to an MBSR or a CCES intervention, matched for time and attention. Study participants attended 8 weekly intervention sessions and participated in home-based practice. Surveys were completed at baseline, postintervention, and at 6 months. Participants were 32- to 82-year-old predominately non-Hispanic White women caring for a parent with dementia. Results MBSR was more effective at improving overall mental health, reducing stress, and decreasing depression than CCES. Both interventions improved caregiver mental health and were similarly effective at improving anxiety, social support, and burden. Implications MBSR could reduce stress and improve mental health in caregivers of family members with dementia residing in the community.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Whitebird, R. R., Kreitzer, M., Crain, A. L., Lewis, B. A., Hanson, L. R., & Enstad, C. J. (2013). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial. The Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gns126
Vancouver
Whitebird RR, Kreitzer M, Crain AL, Lewis BA, Hanson LR, Enstad CJ. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial. The Gerontologist. 2013. doi:10.1093/geront/gns126. PMID: 23070934.
BibTeX
@article{whitebird2013-23070934,
author = {Whitebird, R. R. and Kreitzer, M. and Crain, A. L. and Lewis, B. A. and Hanson, L. R. and Enstad, C. J.},
title = {{Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial}},
journal = {The Gerontologist},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1093/geront/gns126},
pmid = {23070934},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gns126}
}
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Key findings
- Purpose Caring for a family member with dementia is associated with chronic stress, which can have significant deleterious effects on caregivers.
- Results MBSR was more effective at improving overall mental health, reducing stress, and decreasing depression than CCES.
Why it matters
In a randomized trial of 78 family caregivers of people with dementia, an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course improved overall mental health, stress and depression more than a time-matched caregiver education and support program; both programs helped, and they were similarly effective for anxiety, burden and social support. Participants were mostly non-Hispanic White women caring for a parent, so results may not carry over to other caregivers. The study measured caregiver wellbeing only, not any effect on the person with Alzheimer's or dementia.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Gerontologist) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Gerontologist: journal h-index 238 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| 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 | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 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 | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 253 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.9 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 13.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 44 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Chris J. Enstad: h-index 11 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Minnesota: institution h-index 1,568 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 23070934) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
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