Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether “self-help” can be effective in maintaining the well-being of elderly people, especially in comparison to the prevalent concept of “mutual support” as obtained through social contact. In this study, we examined the effects of mindfulness as a type of “self-help” for the well-being of this population. First, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 76 elderly people. Then, we implemented a program, developed by us, introducing mindfulness to 33 of those 76 participants. The remaining 43 participants became the control group. We analyzed the effect mindfulness had on subjective well-being and K6 mental health scale in the 76 participants, while controlling for related variables. Our analysis suggested that mindfulness and financial conditions positively affect subjective well-being and K6. Social contact also had a positive impact on subjective well-being, whereas spouse and employment status had a negative effect. The results of the mindfulness intervention program suggested that subjective well-being increases in intra-group comparison before and after intervention. This effect was also seen in the inter-group comparison of before and one month after the intervention.
