Buffalo Grove

Older South Asian family caregivers who provide care for people with cognitive disabilities often face high psychological stress and limited physical activity due to caregiving duties and barriers like cultural, linguistic, and service access challenges. This research aims to study a combined mindful walking intervention that merges physical activity with cognitive training, addressing a gap in support for this underserved and growing community. The study is a randomized controlled pilot trial designed to assess this new approach. The study will enroll fifty participants aged 45 and older who identify as South Asian family caregivers. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups an intervention group that receives a 12-week mindful walking program involving training, a prescribed walking regimen, use of Fitbit trackers to monitor step counts, self-reporting adherence via logbooks, personalized motivational text messages, and weekly check-ins and a control group that receives educational materials about walking benefits without mindfulness components and neutral text messages. At study end, the control group will also access recorded mindful walking training. Participants will be evaluated at baseline, after 12 weeks, and at a 20-week follow-up. Assessments will include measures of perceived psychological stress, cognitive function tests focusing on attention and executive function, physical activity levels using questionnaires and accelerometers, and self-efficacy scales related to stress coping and physical activity. The study aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and gather preliminary data on its effects, with the total participation spanning at least 20 weeks.