Othelia Eun-Kyoung Lee

The effect of meditative movement on sleep quality: A systematic review

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and assess evidence related to the efficacy of meditative movement (MM) on sleep quality. We conducted a comprehensive review of relevant studies drawn from English and Chinese databases. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting outcomes of the effects of MM (tai chi, qi gong, and yoga) on sleep quality were taken into consideration. Twenty-seven RCTs fulfilled our inclusion criteria and formed the basis for this review. Due to clinical heterogeneity, no meta-analysis was performed. Seventeen studies received a Jadad score of ≥3 and were considered high-quality studies. Findings of the 17 studies showed that MM has beneficial effects for various populations on a range of sleep measures. Improvement in sleep quality was reported in the majority of studies and was often accompanied by improvements in quality of life, physical performance, and depression. However, studies to date generally have significant methodological limitations. Additional RCTs with rigorous research designs focusing on sleep quality or insomnia and testing specific hypotheses are needed to clearly establish the efficacy of MM in improving sleep quality and its potential use as an intervention for various populations.

A Pilot, Randomized Controlled Study of Tai Chi With Passive and Active Controls in the Treatment of Depressed Chinese Americans.

OBJECTIVE This pilot, randomized clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of tai chi as the primary treatment for Chinese Americans with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS 67 Chinese Americans with DSM-IV MDD and no treatment for depression were recruited between March 2012 and April 2013 and randomized (1:1:1) into a tai chi intervention, an education program, or a waitlisted group for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS₁₇); positive response for this outcome was defined as a decrease in total score of 50% or more, and remission was defined as HDRS₁₇ ≤ 7. RESULTS Participants (N = 67) were 72% female with a mean age of 54 ± 13 years. No serious adverse events were reported. After the end of the 12-week intervention, response rates were 25%, 21%, and 56%, and remission rates were 10%, 21%, and 50% for the waitlisted, education, and tai chi intervention groups, respectively. The tai chi group showed improved treatment response when compared to both the waitlisted group (odds ratio [OR] = 2.11; 95% CI, 1.01-4.46) and to the education group (OR = 8.90; 95% CI, 1.17-67.70). Tai chi intervention showed significantly improved remission rate over the waitlisted group (OR = 3.01; 95% CI, 1.25-7.10), and a trend of improved remission compared to the education group (OR = 4.40; 95% CI, 0.78-24.17). CONCLUSIONS As the primary treatment, tai chi improved treatment outcomes for Chinese Americans with MDD over both passive and active control groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01619631.

Faith, spirituality, and values among Asian-American older adults: an exploratory factor analysis of the Multidimensional Measures of Religion and Spirituality

ABSTRACT The use of dominant group-oriented scales is problematic for Asian-Americans with religious pluralism. To identify constructs of faith, spirituality, and values, an exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring with varimax rotation was performed to analyse the 30 items in the Multidimensional Measures of Religion and Spirituality (MMRS). Five primary factors were found for Korean- and Chinese-American older adults (n = 159): (1) religious practice, (2) understanding of the divine, (3) faith-based community as social capital, (4) spiritual coping, and (5) universal values. These empirically derived factors may be a more accurate measure for Korean- and Chinese-Americans who present religious pluralism than the original MMRS Scale.

Functional Independence of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China and South Korea

ABSTRACT Population aging is occurring at an unprecedented pace in China and South Korea. This study intended to identify and compare factors associated with older adults’ functional status in China and South Korea using data from 2 national surveys. The study sample consisted of adults aged 65 to 79 years old drawn from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2005; n = 4,898) and the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging (2006; n = 4,152). The outcome variable, functional status, was defined as dependence in self-care tasks. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to assess the explanatory contributions of sociodemographics, health conditions, and health behaviors and activities to functional status. These Asian older adults shared certain commonalities in maintaining functional independence in their communities, and absence of diseases and higher cognition were associated with functional independence in both countries. Rural residence and outdoor activity were significant for Chinese older adults; for their South Korean peers, gender, employment status, drinking, and exercise were important. This study adds to a slowly growing body of knowledge of ways to improve the functional independence of community-dwelling older persons in these 2 Asian countries and beyond. More research is needed to identify cross-cultural and/or cross-country differences.

Chorus for Community Integration and Recovery for Men with Psychiatric Disabilities in a Supportive Housing Community

ABSTRACT This study reports the findings from a mixed-methods evaluation of the effectiveness of a choral program for 34 homeless men with substance abuse and mental illnesses. The evaluation focused on the chorus experience as one way to promote community integration and recovery. Fifteen residents (44.1%) were chorus members (CMs), and their responses were compared with those of 19 nonmembers (NCMs). When examining the quantitative data only, significant differences were not found between CMs and NCMs. However, narrative data and participant observation revealed that the choral program may have helped CMs improve their subjective experience of community integration by enhancing psychosocial components.

Teaching Strategies for Addressing Poverty Awareness With Aspiring Helping Professionals

This study describes the use of guided learning activities that exposed aspiring helping professionals to the challenges and discrimination experienced by individuals living in poverty. Pretest/posttest and qualitative analysis of participants’ reactions to a Poverty Simulation and a Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop were analyzed to explore perceived learning benefits reported by 43 master of social work (MSW) students. Incorporating poverty content into masters-level social work curriculum stimulated classroom discussions about how the lived experiences of individuals living in poverty impact the service relationship between helping professionals and clients. This observational study evaluated the effectiveness of the used strategies and methods in impacting individual assumptions about socioeconomic class and illustrated the value of university–community collaborations in supporting diversity education and awareness both on and off campus.

Increasing Awareness of Diversity Through Community Engagement and Films

This observational study explored the use of films to create a forum to engage various audiences, including the general public, social work students, and socioeconomically disadvantaged youths. Three film events were held at a large public university. Participant feedback via online forums and panel discussions was analyzed to evaluate the efficacy of using film to facilitate learning about cross-cultural experiences. Vicarious experience through film was found to be useful for multicultural education with varied audiences. Findings indicate that films make a difficult topic safer by objectifying it and removing some of the barriers to learning cultural competence. Further opportunities for university–community partnerships should be developed to enhance multicultural education, to inspire students, and to engage the community.

Factors Associated With Productive Engagement Among Older South Koreans

ABSTRACT Although positive relationships among health, types of activities, and productive aging have been documented in Western industrial nations, little attention has been paid to rapidly developing countries. This study examined unique factors using national South Korean data. Community-dwelling adults aged 55 years and older (n = 6,688) were drawn from Wave II of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the main and interaction effects related to labor force participation (LFP) and lifelong-learning participation (LLP). Whereas one third (34.4%) of the respondents were involved in LFP, LLP was extremely low (6.8%). Health and socioeconomic status were significant in conducting LFP and LLP. Depression and cognition contributed to LFP but not LLP. Older men who reported higher levels of depression were less likely to engage in LLP than were their female peers. For female respondents, the social activities of exercise and alumni meetings contributed to the likelihood of LLP. Given the lower socioeconomic characteristics and low participation in lifelong learning, it is essential to establish financial incentives to encourage activity participation and develop programs to promote productive aging in South Korea. Future studies should consider the impact of environments and social policy on productive engagement.

Effects of Pride and Regret on Geriatric Depression: A Cross-Cultural Study With Mixed-Methods Approaches:

Pride and regret are self-conscious emotions that develop later in life and become a source of emotional struggle. This cross-cultural study examined the effect of the content and intensity of self-conscious emotions on Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores. Among a convenience sample of 234 older adults (130 in the United States and 104 in South Korea), the contents and intensities of both life regrets and pride were examined. Although a greater variety of regrets was cited by Americans, overall Korean respondents reported higher intensity of regret. Regrets that were related to leisure and addiction among Americans and health and career among Koreans were predictors of the GDS scores. Pride in leisure activities for Americans and altruism among Koreans could alleviate depression. While regrets and pride explained a small amount of the variance in the GDS scores, current life stressors greatly contributed to geriatric depression.

Intergenerational Forum to Enhance Students’ Engagement and Learning Outcomes: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study

ABSTRACT The Intergenerational Forum (IF) is an innovative intervention that engages students in conducting community-based participatory research (CBPR). This set of guided learning opportunities is designed to improve college students’ understanding of aging and health issues in their communities. In this study, a total of 252 mentoring hours were provided in kind by 78 students. The majority of these youth volunteers were aspiring health professionals who had received intensive academic and field training to strengthen their interpersonal skills and ability to build meaningful one-on-one relationships with vulnerable populations. Additionally, these student volunteers were at higher risk for mental health issues. Findings revealed that as a result of IF, students were able to improve their knowledge and attitudes toward working with older people. Students were able to combine ideas from courses when completing this IF assignment. Particularly, levels of active and collaborative learning were` enriched by engagement with people representing different economic backgrounds, political views, and religious beliefs. Major themes emerged in students’ narrative data revealed their learning outcomes in the areas of self-awareness, empathy, empowerment, and new perspectives about ageism.