The Quality of Life in the Elderly: The Role of Resiliency and Mindfulness

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Varamin-Pishva branch, Varamin, Iran.

2 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Nowadays, due to increase of lifetime and life expectancy, important issues such as how to spend a lifetime and, in a sense, quality of life have been mentioned. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to predict the quality of life in the elderly based on resiliency and mindfulness. This was a descriptive study of correlational type. The population of the study included all the elderly living in Tehran in the Spring of 2020. The statistical sample of the study consisted of the elderly who were present in public centers (such as recreational centers, educational centers, parks, etc.) and day centers for the elderly. Data were collected using Connor & Davidson’s Resilience, Brown & Ryan’s Mindfulness, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaires and analyzed using simple simple linear regression analysis in SPSS-25. Results demonstrated that both mindfulness and resiliency are able to predict quality of life in the elderly as a significant predictor variable. The mentioned results have implications for specialist working in the field of aging psychology. That is, quality of life in the elderly can be improved through increasing their mindfulness and resiliency capacities.
References
Ahmadi, F., Salar, A., & Faghihzadeh, S. (2004). Quality of life in Zahedan elderly population. Hayat. 10(3), 61-67. [Persian]
Asgari, S., & Shafiee, H. (2017). Prediction of elderly quality of life based on internal coherence, mindfulness and spiritual intelligence. Positive Psychology Research, 3(3), 61-74. [Persian]
Barghi Irani, Z. Bgian Koolemarz, M.J., & Hazari, N. (2017). The Effectiveness of resilience training program on improving nurses’ quality of life. Nursing Management, 5(3 and 4), 9-18. [Persian]
Beh-Pajooh, A., & Solimani, S. (2017). The relationship between quality of sleep and the quality of life of the elderly in three districts of Tehran. Journal of Aging Psychology,3(2), 107-114. [Persian]
Bonanno, G. A., Bucciareli, A., & Vlahov, D. (2007). What predicts psychological resilience after disaster? The role of demographic resources and life stress. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 75(5), 671-682.
Bonanno, G.A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience. American psychologist, 59, 20-28.
Brown, K.W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well- being. Journal of personality and social psychology, 84, 822-848.
Brown, K.W., Ryan, R.M., & Creswell, J.D. (2007). Mindfulness, theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects. Psychological Inquiry, 18(4), 211–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/10478400701598298
Carlson, L. E., Speca, M., Patel, K. D., & Goodey, E. (2003). Mindfulness-based stress reduction in relation to quality of life, mood, symptoms of stress, and immune parameters in breast and prostate cancer outpatients. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 571-581.
Cella, DF. (1995). Measuring quality of life in palliative care (suppl. 3). Seminars in Oncology, 22(2), 73-81.
Chen, M., Huang, Y., Sun, C., Lee, C., Hsiao, S., Chou, Y., Han, T., & Yang, T. (2014). Factors influencing the quality of life of nurse anesthetists and the correlations among work stress, job satisfaction, and quality of life: a case study of three medical centers in southern Taiwan. World Journal of Medicine and Medical Science, 2(2), 1–17.
Connor, K.M., & Davidson, J.R.T. (2003). Development of a New Resilience Scale: The Connor- Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 18, 76- 82.
De Frias, C.M., & Whyne, E. (2015). Stress on health-related quality of life in older adults: the protective nature of mindfulness. Aging & Mental Health, 19(3), 201-206.
Erfani Khanghahi, M., & Ebadi Fard Azar, F. (2018). Systematic review and meta-analysis of the quality of life in iranian elderly people using LEIPAD questionnaire. Payavard, 11(5), 588-597. [Persian]
Flugel Colle, K.F., Cha, S.S., Loehrer, L., Bauer, B.A., & Wahner-Roedler, D.L. (2010). Measurement of quality of life and participant experience with the mindfulness based stress reduction program. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 16, 36–40.
Fry, P. S., and & Debats, D. L. (2010). Sources of human life-strengths, resilience, and healthInP. S. Fry and C. L. M. Keyes(eds.), New Frontiers in resilient aging: Life-strengths and well-being in late life (PP. 15-59). Cambridge University Press.
Gerino, E., Rollè, L., Sechi, C., & Brustia, P. (2017). Loneliness, resilience, mental health, and quality of life in old age: A Structural equation model. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, Article 2003. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02003 
Ghadampour, E., & Moshrefi, S. (2017). Relationship between spiritual health, mental well-being and quality of life with death anxiety in the elderly. Journal of Aging Psychology,3(2), 97-106. [Persian]
 Ghadampour, E., moradizadeh, S., & Shahkarami, M. (2018). The Effectiveness of mindfulness training on increasing happiness and improving quality of life in elderly. Aging Psychology4(1), 27-38. [Persian]
Innes, K. E., Selfe, T.K., Khalsa, D.S., & Kandati, S. (2016). Effects of meditation versus music listening on perceived stress, mood, sleep, and quality of life in adults with early memory loss: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 52 (4), 1277–1298.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Coming to our senses: Healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness. Hyperion.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living: How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation. Bantam Books.
 Kiani, S. (2010). Relationship of emotional intelligence, resiliency and social adjustment in Shahed students for determination of mental health. (Unpunished Master thesis), Allame Tabatabae’i university. [Persian]
Kols, N., Sauer, S., & Walach, H. (2009). Facet of mindfulness – results of an online study investigating the Freiburg mindfulness inventory. Personality and Individual differences, 46. 224-230.
Letzring, T.D., Block, J., & Funder, DC. (2005). Ego-control and ego – resiliency, generalization of self – report scales based on personality descriptions form acquaintances, clinicians, and the self. Journal of Research in Personality, 29, 395-422.
Ma, S.H., & Teasdale, J.D. (2004). Mindfulness- based cognitive therapy for depression, replication and exploration of differential relapse prevention effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 31-40.
Majd, M. (2002). Elderly health national plan and common cancers in women. Harayand. [Persian]
Masten, A. (2001). Ordinary magic: resilience process in development. American psychologist, 56, 227-228.
Mavaee, Z., & kakabaraee, K. (2017). The effectiveness of mindfulness on quality of life and happiness of the elderly. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 3(4), 9-20. [Persian]
Mohammadi, M. (2005). Comparison factors effect on resiliency on individuals at drug abuse risk. PhD thesis, welfare and Rehabilitation University. [Persian]
Morone, NE., & Greco, CM. (2007). Mind-body interventions for chronic pain in older adults: A structured review. Pain Med, 8, 359–375.
Motamedi, A. (2018). Elderly psychology. Samt. [Persian]
Narimani, M., Ariapouran, S., Abolghasemi, A., & Ahadi, B. (2010). The Comparison of the effectiveness of mindfulness and emotion regulation training on mental health in chemical weapon victims. Journal of Clinical Psychology2(4), 61-71. [Persian]
Nasiri, H. (2006). Investigation of validity and reliability on quality of life scale (Short form) and its Iranian form. Article in third congress of mental health, Tehran. [Persian] https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?ID=230066.
Pourabdol, S., Absasi, M., Pirani, Z., & Abbasi, M. (2015). The Relationship between life expectancy and psychological well-being with quality of life in the elderly. Journal of Aging Psychology,1(1), 57-65. [Persian]
Rafee, M., Sabahi, P., & Makvand Hosseini, S. (2020). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life in elderly men living in nursing homes. Medical Journal of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 62(5.1), 870-879. [Persian] https://doi.org/10.22038/mjms.2020.16262
Rosenzweig, S., Greeso, J. M., Reibel, D. K., Green, J. S., Jasser, S. A., & Beasley, D. (2010). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic pain conditions: Variation in treatment outcomes and role of home meditation practice. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 68, 29-36.
Saeidimehr, S., Geravandi, S., Izadmehr, A., & Mohammadi, M.J. (2016). Relationship between the “quality of life” and symptoms of depression among older adults. Iranian Journal of Ageing, 11 (1) ,90-99. [Persian]
Samani, S., Jokar, B., & Sahragard, N. (2007). Effects of resilience on mental health and life satisfaction. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 13(3), 290-295. [Persian]
Shahabi Fam, L., & Ltifi Nia, H. (2019). Effectiveness of resiliency education on quality of life, coping strategies and mental health in elderlies of elderly house. Article in the 1st biennial congress on psychology and behavioral sciences. Tabriz, Iran. [Persian] https://www.tpbin.com/article/80744
Sheibani Tazraji, F., Pakdaman, S., Dadkhah, A., & Hasanzadeh Tavakoli, M.R. (2010). The Effect of music therapy on depression and loneliness in old people. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 5(2), 54-60. [Persian]
Smith-Osborne, A., & Felderhoff, B. (2016). Formal and family caregiver protective factors in systems of care: a systematic review with implications toward a resilience model for aging veterans. Traumatology, 22, 29–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000056
Thomas, L. J., & Revell, S. H. (2016). Resilience in nursing students. Nurse Education Today, (l36) 457–462.
Walker, L., & Colosimo, K. (2011), "Mindfulness, self-compassion and happiness in non- meditators: A theoretical and empirical examination". Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 222-227.
Werner, K., & Gross, J.J. (2010). Emotion regulation and psychopathology: a conceptual framework. In A. M. Kring, & D. M. Sloan (Eds.), Emotion regulation and psychopathologyA transdiagnostic approach to etiology and treatment (pp. 12-37). Guilford Press.
Yousefi Afrashteh, M., & Sharifi, K. (2015). The Relationship between depression, perceived stress and social support with quality of life in elderly with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Aging Psychology,1(2), 1-10. [Persian]
Zabet, M., Momeni, K., & Karami, J. (2015). The Effectiveness of quality of life therapy on positive and negative affect in elderly women. Journal of Aging Psychology,1(2), 73-80. [Persian]
Zeidan, F., Gordon, N.S., Merchant, J., & Goolkasian, P. (2010), The Effect of brief mindfulness meditation training on experimentally induced Pain. The Journal of Pain, 11(3), 199-209.

Keywords


References
Ahmadi, F., Salar, A., & Faghihzadeh, S. (2004). Quality of life in Zahedan elderly population. Hayat. 10(3), 61-67. [Persian]
Asgari, S., & Shafiee, H. (2017). Prediction of elderly quality of life based on internal coherence, mindfulness and spiritual intelligence. Positive Psychology Research, 3(3), 61-74. [Persian]
Barghi Irani, Z. Bgian Koolemarz, M.J., & Hazari, N. (2017). The Effectiveness of resilience training program on improving nurses’ quality of life. Nursing Management, 5(3 and 4), 9-18. [Persian]
Beh-Pajooh, A., & Solimani, S. (2017). The relationship between quality of sleep and the quality of life of the elderly in three districts of Tehran. Journal of Aging Psychology,3(2), 107-114. [Persian]
Bonanno, G. A., Bucciareli, A., & Vlahov, D. (2007). What predicts psychological resilience after disaster? The role of demographic resources and life stress. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 75(5), 671-682.
Bonanno, G.A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience. American psychologist, 59, 20-28.
Brown, K.W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well- being. Journal of personality and social psychology, 84, 822-848.
Brown, K.W., Ryan, R.M., & Creswell, J.D. (2007). Mindfulness, theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects. Psychological Inquiry, 18(4), 211–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/10478400701598298
Carlson, L. E., Speca, M., Patel, K. D., & Goodey, E. (2003). Mindfulness-based stress reduction in relation to quality of life, mood, symptoms of stress, and immune parameters in breast and prostate cancer outpatients. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 571-581.
Cella, DF. (1995). Measuring quality of life in palliative care (suppl. 3). Seminars in Oncology, 22(2), 73-81.
Chen, M., Huang, Y., Sun, C., Lee, C., Hsiao, S., Chou, Y., Han, T., & Yang, T. (2014). Factors influencing the quality of life of nurse anesthetists and the correlations among work stress, job satisfaction, and quality of life: a case study of three medical centers in southern Taiwan. World Journal of Medicine and Medical Science, 2(2), 1–17.
Connor, K.M., & Davidson, J.R.T. (2003). Development of a New Resilience Scale: The Connor- Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 18, 76- 82.
De Frias, C.M., & Whyne, E. (2015). Stress on health-related quality of life in older adults: the protective nature of mindfulness. Aging & Mental Health, 19(3), 201-206.
Erfani Khanghahi, M., & Ebadi Fard Azar, F. (2018). Systematic review and meta-analysis of the quality of life in iranian elderly people using LEIPAD questionnaire. Payavard, 11(5), 588-597. [Persian]
Flugel Colle, K.F., Cha, S.S., Loehrer, L., Bauer, B.A., & Wahner-Roedler, D.L. (2010). Measurement of quality of life and participant experience with the mindfulness based stress reduction program. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 16, 36–40.
Fry, P. S., and & Debats, D. L. (2010). Sources of human life-strengths, resilience, and healthInP. S. Fry and C. L. M. Keyes(eds.), New Frontiers in resilient aging: Life-strengths and well-being in late life (PP. 15-59). Cambridge University Press.
Gerino, E., Rollè, L., Sechi, C., & Brustia, P. (2017). Loneliness, resilience, mental health, and quality of life in old age: A Structural equation model. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, Article 2003. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02003 
Ghadampour, E., & Moshrefi, S. (2017). Relationship between spiritual health, mental well-being and quality of life with death anxiety in the elderly. Journal of Aging Psychology,3(2), 97-106. [Persian]
 Ghadampour, E., moradizadeh, S., & Shahkarami, M. (2018). The Effectiveness of mindfulness training on increasing happiness and improving quality of life in elderly. Aging Psychology4(1), 27-38. [Persian]
Innes, K. E., Selfe, T.K., Khalsa, D.S., & Kandati, S. (2016). Effects of meditation versus music listening on perceived stress, mood, sleep, and quality of life in adults with early memory loss: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 52 (4), 1277–1298.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Coming to our senses: Healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness. Hyperion.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living: How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation. Bantam Books.
 Kiani, S. (2010). Relationship of emotional intelligence, resiliency and social adjustment in Shahed students for determination of mental health. (Unpunished Master thesis), Allame Tabatabae’i university. [Persian]
Kols, N., Sauer, S., & Walach, H. (2009). Facet of mindfulness – results of an online study investigating the Freiburg mindfulness inventory. Personality and Individual differences, 46. 224-230.
Letzring, T.D., Block, J., & Funder, DC. (2005). Ego-control and ego – resiliency, generalization of self – report scales based on personality descriptions form acquaintances, clinicians, and the self. Journal of Research in Personality, 29, 395-422.
Ma, S.H., & Teasdale, J.D. (2004). Mindfulness- based cognitive therapy for depression, replication and exploration of differential relapse prevention effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 31-40.
Majd, M. (2002). Elderly health national plan and common cancers in women. Harayand. [Persian]
Masten, A. (2001). Ordinary magic: resilience process in development. American psychologist, 56, 227-228.
Mavaee, Z., & kakabaraee, K. (2017). The effectiveness of mindfulness on quality of life and happiness of the elderly. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 3(4), 9-20. [Persian]
Mohammadi, M. (2005). Comparison factors effect on resiliency on individuals at drug abuse risk. PhD thesis, welfare and Rehabilitation University. [Persian]
Morone, NE., & Greco, CM. (2007). Mind-body interventions for chronic pain in older adults: A structured review. Pain Med, 8, 359–375.
Motamedi, A. (2018). Elderly psychology. Samt. [Persian]
Narimani, M., Ariapouran, S., Abolghasemi, A., & Ahadi, B. (2010). The Comparison of the effectiveness of mindfulness and emotion regulation training on mental health in chemical weapon victims. Journal of Clinical Psychology2(4), 61-71. [Persian]
Nasiri, H. (2006). Investigation of validity and reliability on quality of life scale (Short form) and its Iranian form. Article in third congress of mental health, Tehran. [Persian] https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?ID=230066.
Pourabdol, S., Absasi, M., Pirani, Z., & Abbasi, M. (2015). The Relationship between life expectancy and psychological well-being with quality of life in the elderly. Journal of Aging Psychology,1(1), 57-65. [Persian]
Rafee, M., Sabahi, P., & Makvand Hosseini, S. (2020). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life in elderly men living in nursing homes. Medical Journal of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 62(5.1), 870-879. [Persian] https://doi.org/10.22038/mjms.2020.16262
Rosenzweig, S., Greeso, J. M., Reibel, D. K., Green, J. S., Jasser, S. A., & Beasley, D. (2010). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic pain conditions: Variation in treatment outcomes and role of home meditation practice. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 68, 29-36.
Saeidimehr, S., Geravandi, S., Izadmehr, A., & Mohammadi, M.J. (2016). Relationship between the “quality of life” and symptoms of depression among older adults. Iranian Journal of Ageing, 11 (1) ,90-99. [Persian]
Samani, S., Jokar, B., & Sahragard, N. (2007). Effects of resilience on mental health and life satisfaction. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 13(3), 290-295. [Persian]
Shahabi Fam, L., & Ltifi Nia, H. (2019). Effectiveness of resiliency education on quality of life, coping strategies and mental health in elderlies of elderly house. Article in the 1st biennial congress on psychology and behavioral sciences. Tabriz, Iran. [Persian] https://www.tpbin.com/article/80744
Sheibani Tazraji, F., Pakdaman, S., Dadkhah, A., & Hasanzadeh Tavakoli, M.R. (2010). The Effect of music therapy on depression and loneliness in old people. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 5(2), 54-60. [Persian]
Smith-Osborne, A., & Felderhoff, B. (2016). Formal and family caregiver protective factors in systems of care: a systematic review with implications toward a resilience model for aging veterans. Traumatology, 22, 29–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000056
Thomas, L. J., & Revell, S. H. (2016). Resilience in nursing students. Nurse Education Today, (l36) 457–462.
Walker, L., & Colosimo, K. (2011), "Mindfulness, self-compassion and happiness in non- meditators: A theoretical and empirical examination". Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 222-227.
Werner, K., & Gross, J.J. (2010). Emotion regulation and psychopathology: a conceptual framework. In A. M. Kring, & D. M. Sloan (Eds.), Emotion regulation and psychopathologyA transdiagnostic approach to etiology and treatment (pp. 12-37). Guilford Press.
Yousefi Afrashteh, M., & Sharifi, K. (2015). The Relationship between depression, perceived stress and social support with quality of life in elderly with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Aging Psychology,1(2), 1-10. [Persian]
Zabet, M., Momeni, K., & Karami, J. (2015). The Effectiveness of quality of life therapy on positive and negative affect in elderly women. Journal of Aging Psychology,1(2), 73-80. [Persian]
Zeidan, F., Gordon, N.S., Merchant, J., & Goolkasian, P. (2010), The Effect of brief mindfulness meditation training on experimentally induced Pain. The Journal of Pain, 11(3), 199-209.