Quality of life in patients with mild Alzheimer disease: the mediator role of mindfulness and spirituality

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the mediator role of mindfulness and spirituality in the relationship between psychological morbidity, awareness of the disease, functionality, social support, family satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with mild AD. Method: The sample consisted of 128 patients who answered the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R), the Assessment Scale of Psychosocial Impact of the Diagnosis of Dementia (ASPIDD), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS), the Satisfaction with Social Support Scale (SSSS), the Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS), the Spiritual and Religious Attitudes in Dealing with Illness (SpREUK), the Index of Barthel, and the Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD). Results: Mindfulness and spirituality mediated the relationship between functionality, awareness of the disease, family satisfaction and QoL. Psychological morbidity had a direct negative impact on QoL and was negatively associated with awareness of the disease, family satisfaction and social support. Mindfulness was negatively associated with spirituality and the latter was negatively associated with QoL. More social support was associated with greater awareness of the disease and family satisfaction. More functionality, awareness of the disease and family satisfaction contributed to more QoL and this relationship was mediated by mindfulness and spirituality. Conclusion: Interventions directed at the promotion of the QoL of patients with mild AD should focus on the promotion of mindfulness skills in AD patients, in addition to the reduction of psychological morbidity and the promotion of functionality, awareness of the disease, family relationships and social support.