The Effect of Mantram Repetition on QOL in Low-income, Urban Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Background: Quality of life is an important concept of increasing significance for the healthcare in the United States, especially when taken in perspective of the aging population. Low-income, urban dwelling older adults are challenged in a number of ways that may negatively impact their QOL. This unique group is prone to report lower QOL, therefore, interventions targeted to improve QOL are timely. The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of mantram repetition (MR) on QOL in a sample of lowincome, urban dwelling older adults. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-posttest study was conducted using a sample population of low-income older adults recruited from a community wellness center for older adults from September 15 th , 2017 to December 7th, 2017. Independent study variables included age, gender, monthly income, previous meditation experience, history of psychiatric illness, housing status and MR frequency. Dependent study variables included QOL domains scores derived from the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using SPSS, version 24. Results: It was determined that there were no significant differences in demographic variables between participants who completed the study (n=36) and those who did not (n=36). Results from the statistical analysis indicated there was not a significant increase in QOL over the course of the 8-week intervention period. Only two of the independent variables, monthly income (r=-.39, p < .05) and history of psychiatric illness (F(1,32) 21.38 p = .034 (η 2 = .36) demonstrated a significant relationship with one of the dependent variables (Psychological QOL). Mantram repetition frequency did not contribute a significant amount of variance to post-intervention QOL domain scores. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the plausibility of implementing a MR program in a day center for low-income, urban dwelling older adults. While this study did not significantly demonstrate that MR improved QOL, the findings did suggest that participants exhibited some improvement in QOL. The results of this study have reported relevant findings that may inform differently designed MR interventional studies. Blank Page/Copyright I would also like to thank Dr. Mary Barger and Dr. Shelley Hawkins as my dissertation committee members. Their support, expertise, thoughtful insight and inspiration were key to the ongoing development and successful completion of my dissertation. It is my hope that I may contribute to the development of future nurse scientists as I was guided and supported by Drs. Mayo, Barger and Hawkins. Lastly, I would like to thank the older adult clients who participated in my study. Your lives inspired me to become a nurse scientist and to use the pursuit of scientific knowledge to help the world at large as well as those closest to me, who I hold so dear.