Mind-body practices in U.S. adults: Prevalence and correlates

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Public Health
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Mind-body practices (MBP), including Yoga and Tai-Chi, have gained significant popularity in the U.S. over the past 25 years.
• These practices may encourage less sedentary lifestyles and positively impact overall health.
• Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of MBP use is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and trends of mind-body practice use among U.S. adults.
• To identify sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with MBP use over a 20-year period.
• To analyze longitudinal patterns of MBP engagement in a population-based sample.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from three waves (1995, 2005, 2015) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey.
• Included 2,262 community-dwelling adults aged 24-74 at baseline with complete three-wave observations.
• Examined prevalence, longitudinal patterns, and correlates of MBP use over two decades.

Main Results:

• MBP usage remained relatively stable across the study period, with approximately 17-20% of participants engaging in these practices.
• Key correlates of higher MBP use included being female, having higher education levels, being never married, and reporting multiple chronic health conditions.
• These factors were independently associated with the frequency of MBP use over the 20-year study duration.

Conclusions:

• Mind-body practices may serve as a valuable avenue for physical activity, particularly for individuals managing chronic health conditions.
• Further research is warranted to investigate the direct impact of MBP on health outcomes for individuals with chronic illnesses.
• Findings highlight the potential role of MBP in promoting physical activity and managing health in diverse adult populations.