The Effectiveness of Positivism Training on the Life Satisfaction and Character Strengths in the Elderly Men

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Dezful Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran.

2 Department of Psychology, Dezful Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran

10.22126/jap.2020.5647.1460

Abstract

The phenomenon of aging is the result of the natural course of time that results in physiological, psychological and social changes. Maintaining the ability and life satisfaction of the elderly, despite the inevitable changes in their condition, can be effective in promoting communities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to consider the effectiveness of positivism training on life satisfaction and character strengths in the elderly men. It was a quasi-experimental study with pretest, posttest and control group design. The statistical population of the study included all elderly men who were retirees of Oil Company in Khoram Abad in 2020. The samples of this study consisted of 30 men elderlies (60-70 age) selected using convenience sampling and according to inclusion criteria. The experimental group received eight ninety-minute sessions during two months while the control group didn’t receive any intervention during conducting the study. The applied questionnaires in the study included Character Strengths Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance in SPSS-22 software. The results showed that there was significant difference between experimental and control groups in terms of life satisfaction and character strengths (p < 0.001). In other words, positivism training resulted in life satisfaction and character strengths in the elderly men. According to the findings of the current study, positivism training can be suggested as an effective method in order to increase life satisfaction and character strengths in the elderly men.
References

Bagheri-Nesami, M., Sohrabi, M., Ebrahimi, M., Heidari-Fard, J., Yanj, J., & Golchinmehr, S. (2013). The Relationship between Life Satisfaction with Social Support and Self-efficacy in Community-dwelling Elderly in Sari, Iran, 2012. Journal Mazandaran Univercity Medcal Science, 23(101), 38-47. [Persian]

Banisi, P. (2019). The Effectiveness of positivism training on subjective well-being, positive meta-emotion and self-management ability in the elderly women. Journal of Aging Psychology, 5(3), 217-227. [Persian]
Bayat Rizi M, Salimi H, Farahbakhsh K, Ali Farokhi N. (2020). An assessment of the impact of teaching positive intervention program on life satisfaction of the employed women. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research, 15(3), 77-85. [Persian]
Bayani, A., Koocheky, A., Goodarzi, H. (2007). The reliability and validity of the satisfaction with life scale, Journal of Developmental Psycology 3(11), 259-265. [Persian]
Compton, W. C. & Hoffman, E. (2013). Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness and Flourishing (2ndEds.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Cesko, E., & Cakici E. (2020) Positive Psychotherapy in Different Cultures. In: Messias E., Peseschkian H., Cagande C. (eds.) Positive Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychology. Springer, Cham.
Dawson, R., & Austin, N. (2014). Th consolation of character strength in ignatianspirtuality and positive psychology. Journal of the Way, 5 (3), 7–21.
Diener‚ E.‚ Emmons‚ R.A.‚ Larsen‚ R.J.‚ & Griffin‚ S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment‚ 49‚ 71-75.
Diener, E, Suh E.M, Lucas R.E., & Smith, H.L. (1999). Subjective wellbeing: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125(2), 276–302.
Efkides, A., & Moraitou, D. (Eds.) (2013). Apositive psychology perspective on Quailty of life. New York: Springer.
Farnam, A. (2016). The Effect of Positive Thinking Training in Enhancement of Quality and Hope of life among the Elderly. Positive Psychology, 2(1), 75-88. [Persian]
Frolov, P. (2020) Supervision in Positive Psychotherapy. In E. Messias, H. Peseschkian, C. Cagande (eds.) Positive Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychology. Springer, Cham.
Ho, H. C., Yeung, D. Y., & Kwok, S. Y. (2014). Development and evaluation of the positive psychology intervention for older adults. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(3), 187-197.
Linley, P.A., & Harrington, S. (2006). Playing to Your Strengths. Psychologist, 19(2), 86-89.
Mahmodi, M. (2016). Population aging: a socio-demographic phenomenon. Women's Strategic Studies, 19(73), 178-183. [Persian]
Mazloumi, A., Asgari, P., Makoundi, B., Ehteshamzadeh, P., & Bakhtiarpour, S. (2020). Comparison of the effectiveness of intervention based on positive psychology and emotion regulation training on the character abilities of Naran group. Journal of Women, Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, 10(1), 177-159. [Persian]
Mohammadi Mehr, M., Zamani-Alavijeh, F., Hasanzadeh, A., & Fasihi, T. (2019). Effect of Healthy Lifestyle Educational Programs on Happiness and Life Satisfaction in the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 13(4), 440-451. [Persian]
Momeni, K., & Rafiee, Z. (2018). Correlation of Social Support and Religious Orientation with Life Satisfaction in the Elderly. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 13(1), 50-61. [Persian]
Morley, S. (2015). Single cases are complex: Illustrated by Flink et al. Happy despite pain: a pilot study of a positive psychology intervention for patients with chronic pain. Scandinavian Journal of Pain, 7(1), 55-57.
Nazari, S., Honarmand, P., & Hoshyar Badanesh, M. (2019). Comparison of the effect of yoga and pilates training on mental health and quality of life of disabled elderly women. Journal Psychological Science, 82(18), 117-1165. [Persian]
Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Strengths of character and Well-being. Journal of social and Clinical Psychology, 23, 603-619.
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. New York: Oxford University Press and Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Proyer, R.T., Ruch, W., & Buschor, C. (2013).Testing strengthsbased interventions: A preliminary study on the effectiveness of a program targeting curiosity, gratitude, hope, humor, and zest for enhancing life satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(1), 275-292.
Rashid, T., Uliaszeck, A. Stevanovski, S., Gulamani, T, Kazemi, F. (2013). Comparing Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Poster presented at the Third International Positive Psychology Congress, Los Angeles, CA.
Rodgers V, Neville S, La Grow S. (2017). Health, functional ability and life satisfaction among older people 65 years and over: a cross-sectional study. Contemporary nurse, 53(3), 284-292.
Saadatkhah, S., Sajjadian, I., Ghamarani, A. (2017). Satisfaction with Life in Retired Elderly: The Role of Post-Traumatic Growth and Authentic Personalit. Aging Psychology, 3(1), 11-20. [Persian]
Sayadi Sarini, M., Hojatkhah, S., Rashidi, A. (2016). The Effectiveness of Positive Thinking Skills on Enhancement of Psychological Well-being and Decreased of Loneliness in Elderly Women. Aging Psychology, 2(1), 61-71. [Persian]
Salimi, E., Dasht Bozorgi, B., Mozafari, M., & Tabesh, H. (2014). Investigating mental health status and life satisfaction of retired elderly referred to retirement’s centers of the Jundishapur University of medical sciences and shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz. Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 1(1), 20-31. [Persian]
Sadegh-Moghadam, l., Delshad Noghabi, A., Farhadi, A., Nazari, S., Eshghizade, M., Chopanvafa, F., & Niazi Evari, M. (2016).Life Satisfaction in older adults: Role of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, 22(6), 1043-1051[Persian].
Safari, S., & Akbari, B. (2018). The Effectiveness of Positive Thinking Training on Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life in the Elderly. Avicenna Journal of Neuro Psycho Physiology, 5 (3), 113-122.
Schueller, S.M. (2012). Positive Psychology, Encyclopedia of Human Behavior (Second Edition), 140-147 San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press.
Seligman, M. E. P., (2012). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-Being. New York: Free Press.
Slezackova, A. (2012). Character Strengths and Well-Being in European Students. In 3rd International Conference on Positivism: Foundation for Human Dimension, Amity University Rajasthan, India.
Sharisiyan, A., & Rezaei, H. (2016). Comparison of Life Satisfaction, General Health and Functionality of Elderly Residents in Public and Private Nursing Homes in Tehran. A Research Journal on Social Work, 2(8), 77-111. [Persian]
Strazdin, L., & Broom, D. (2008). The mental health costs and benefits of giving social support. International Journal of Stress Management, 14(4), 370-385.
Taheri, M., & Irandoust, K. (2019). The Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation and Functional Exercises on the Psychomotor Performance of Aged Women in Qazvin. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 14(1), 2-13. [Persian]
Tavakoli, Gh., Rezai Dehnavi, S., & Montajabian, Z. (2020). The Effectiveness of positive psychotherapy on pain perception and death anxiety in the elderly. Journal of Aging Psychology, 5(4), 321-332. [Persian]
Ye, S., Yu, L., & Li, K. K. (2012). A Cross-Lagged model of self-esteem and life satisfaction: Gender differences among Chinese university students. Personality and Individual Differences, 52(4), 546-51

Keywords


References
Bagheri-Nesami, M., Sohrabi, M., Ebrahimi, M., Heidari-Fard, J., Yanj, J., & Golchinmehr, S. (2013). The Relationship between Life Satisfaction with Social Support and Self-efficacy in Community-dwelling Elderly in Sari, Iran, 2012. Journal Mazandaran Univercity Medcal Science23(101), 38-47. [Persian]
Banisi, P. (2019). The Effectiveness of positivism training on subjective well-being, positive meta-emotion and self-management ability in the elderly women. Journal of Aging Psychology, 5(3), 217-227. [Persian]
Bayat Rizi M, Salimi H, Farahbakhsh K, Ali Farokhi N. (2020). An assessment of the impact of teaching positive intervention program on life satisfaction of the employed women. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research, 15(3), 77-85. [Persian]
Bayani, A., Koocheky, A., Goodarzi, H. (2007). The reliability and validity of the satisfaction with life scale, Journal of Developmental Psycology 3(11), 259-265. [Persian]
Compton, W. C. & Hoffman, E. (2013). Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness and Flourishing (2ndEds.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Cesko, E., & Cakici E. (2020) Positive Psychotherapy in Different Cultures. In: Messias E., Peseschkian H., Cagande C. (eds.) Positive Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychology. Springer, Cham.
Dawson, R., & Austin, N. (2014). Th consolation of character strength in ignatianspirtuality and positive psychology. Journal of the Way, 5 (3), 7–21.
Diener‚ E.‚ Emmons‚ R.A.‚ Larsen‚ R.J.‚ & Griffin‚ S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment‚ 49‚ 71-75.
Diener, E, Suh E.M, Lucas R.E., & Smith, H.L. (1999). Subjective wellbeing: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin125(2), 276–302.
Efkides, A., & Moraitou, D. (Eds.) (2013). Apositive psychology perspective on Quailty of life. New York: Springer.
Farnam, A. (2016). The Effect of Positive Thinking Training in Enhancement of Quality and Hope of life among the Elderly. Positive Psychology2(1), 75-88. [Persian]
Frolov, P. (2020) Supervision in Positive Psychotherapy. In E. Messias, H. Peseschkian, C. Cagande (eds.) Positive Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychology. Springer, Cham.
Ho, H. C., Yeung, D. Y., & Kwok, S. Y. (2014). Development and evaluation of the positive psychology intervention for older adults. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(3), 187-197.
Linley, P.A., & Harrington, S. (2006). Playing to Your Strengths. Psychologist19(2), 86-89.
Mahmodi, M. (2016). Population aging: a socio-demographic phenomenon. Women's Strategic Studies19(73), 178-183. [Persian]
Mazloumi, A., Asgari, P., Makoundi, B., Ehteshamzadeh, P., & Bakhtiarpour, S. (2020). Comparison of the effectiveness of intervention based on positive psychology and emotion regulation training on the character abilities of Naran group. Journal of Women, Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies10(1), 177-159. [Persian]
Mohammadi Mehr, M., Zamani-Alavijeh, F., Hasanzadeh, A., & Fasihi, T. (2019). Effect of Healthy Lifestyle Educational Programs on Happiness and Life Satisfaction in the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 13(4), 440-451. [Persian]
Momeni, K., & Rafiee, Z. (2018). Correlation of Social Support and Religious Orientation with Life Satisfaction in the Elderly. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing13(1), 50-61. [Persian]
Morley, S. (2015). Single cases are complex: Illustrated by Flink et al. Happy despite pain: a pilot study of a positive psychology intervention for patients with chronic pain. Scandinavian Journal of Pain7(1), 55-57.
Nazari, S., Honarmand, P., & Hoshyar Badanesh, M. (2019). Comparison of the effect of yoga and pilates training on mental health and quality of life of disabled elderly women. Journal Psychological Science82(18), 117-1165. [Persian]
Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Strengths of character and Well-being. Journal of social and Clinical Psychology23, 603-619.
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. New York: Oxford University Press and Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Proyer, R.T., Ruch, W., & Buschor, C. (2013).Testing strengthsbased interventions: A preliminary study on the effectiveness of a program targeting curiosity, gratitude, hope, humor, and zest for enhancing life satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(1), 275-292.
Rashid, T., Uliaszeck, A. Stevanovski, S., Gulamani, T, Kazemi, F. (2013). Comparing Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Poster presented at the Third International Positive Psychology Congress, Los Angeles, CA.
Rodgers V, Neville S, La Grow S. (2017). Health, functional ability and life satisfaction among older people 65 years and over: a cross-sectional study. Contemporary nurse, 53(3), 284-292.
Saadatkhah, S., Sajjadian, I., Ghamarani, A. (2017). Satisfaction with Life in Retired Elderly: The Role of Post-Traumatic Growth and Authentic Personalit. Aging Psychology3(1), 11-20. [Persian]
Sayadi Sarini, M., Hojatkhah, S., Rashidi, A. (2016). The Effectiveness of Positive Thinking Skills on Enhancement of Psychological Well-being and Decreased of Loneliness in Elderly Women. Aging Psychology2(1), 61-71. [Persian]
Salimi, E., Dasht Bozorgi, B., Mozafari, M., & Tabesh, H. (2014). Investigating mental health status and life satisfaction of retired elderly referred to retirement’s centers of the Jundishapur University of medical sciences and shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz. Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 1(1), 20-31. [Persian]
Sadegh-Moghadam, l., Delshad Noghabi, A., Farhadi, A., Nazari, S., Eshghizade, M., Chopanvafa, F., & Niazi Evari, M. (2016).Life Satisfaction in older adults: Role of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences22(6), 1043-1051[Persian].
Safari, S., & Akbari, B. (2018). The Effectiveness of Positive Thinking Training on Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life in the Elderly. Avicenna Journal of Neuro Psycho Physiology5 (3), 113-122.
Schueller, S.M. (2012). Positive Psychology, Encyclopedia of Human Behavior (Second Edition), 140-147 San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press.
Seligman, M. E. P., (2012). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-Being. New York: Free Press.
Slezackova, A. (2012). Character Strengths and Well-Being in European Students. In 3rd International Conference on Positivism: Foundation for Human Dimension, Amity University Rajasthan, India.
Sharisiyan, A., & Rezaei, H. (2016). Comparison of Life Satisfaction, General Health and Functionality of Elderly Residents in Public and Private Nursing Homes in Tehran. A Research Journal on Social Work2(8), 77-111. [Persian]
Strazdin, L., & Broom, D. (2008). The mental health costs and benefits of giving social support. International Journal of Stress Management, 14(4), 370-385.
Taheri, M., & Irandoust, K. (2019). The Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation and Functional Exercises on the Psychomotor Performance of Aged Women in Qazvin. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing14(1), 2-13. [Persian]
Tavakoli, Gh., Rezai Dehnavi, S., & Montajabian, Z. (2020). The Effectiveness of positive psychotherapy on pain perception and death anxiety in the elderly. Journal of Aging Psychology, 5(4), 321-332. [Persian]
Ye, S., Yu, L., & Li, K. K. (2012). A Cross-Lagged model of self-esteem and life satisfaction: Gender differences among Chinese university students. Personality and Individual Differences52(4), 546-51