JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Population aging in the Netherlands is driving a rapid rise in dementia cases, posing a major challenge for the healthcare system. Digital multidomain lifestyle interventions can protect against cognitive decline but struggle to sustain engagement.

Objective:

This study explores the motivators and barriers for adults over 60 to use mindfulness apps for stress management– a key risk factor for dementia - within such interventions. Despite their potential, the acceptability of mindfulness apps for stress relief in older adults remains underexplored.

Methods:

We conducted fifteen semi-structured interviews with former participants of a 26-week multidomain lifestyle intervention study (the ‘HELI’ study). Participants (8 female; age range: 61-73) were asked about their perceptions and experiences with the mindfulness app offered in the intervention to identify motivators and barriers for use. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:

Findings suggest older adults are more motivated to use mindfulness apps for pre-sleep worry than for daily stress. While many have developed strategies to manage daily stress with age, nighttime rumination remains a challenge. Barriers include negative associations with the term "mindfulness" and challenges in maintaining focus during exercises.

Conclusions:

We discuss that diminished cognitive resources at night, fewer distractions, and metacognitive patterns may sustain worry before sleep. This study highlights the importance of tailoring multidomain lifestyle interventions to the unique challenges of older adults. We also offer recommendations to present mindfulness in ways that help older adults stay focused during practice.