The Effectiveness of Reality Therapy on the Life Expectancy and Psychological Well-Being of the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Dept. of Psychology, Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

2 Dept. of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr Branch

Abstract

The aging process can be known as a set of structural and functional adverse changes that accumulate increasingly with the increase of age, and results in the decrease of components like life expectancy and psychological well-being of the elderly. However, the mentioned components can be improved. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of reality therapy on the life expectancy and psychological well-being of the elderly living in nursing homes. It was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of the study included of all the elderly living in nursing homes of Hamedan, Iran in the second six months of 2022. The sample included of 30 people selected using purposeful sampling method and according to the inclusion criteria of the stdy. Participants were randomly assigned into two 15-member groups of experimental and control. The experimental group received 10 sessions of reality therapy intervention and the control group did not receive any intervention in the same time. The measures conducted of Schneider's life expectancy and Ryff’s psychological well-being questionnaires. Finally, the collected data were analyzed at two levels of descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (univariate covariance analysis) by SPSS version 24 software. The results illustrated that reality therapy intervention is significantly effective in increasing the life expectancy of the elderly and in increasing their psychological well-being (P<0.05). Therefore, the reality therapy protocol can be applied as one of the effective psychological interventions in increasing the life expectancy and psychological well-being of the elderly.
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Balista, V. G. (2013). Sistema de realidade virtual para avaliaço e reabilitaçode. déficit motor. Workshop on Virtual, Augmented Reality and Games – Full Papers (pp.16-18). Vitoria: FAESA.
Barzegar Bafrooei K, Ahali Abadeh M, Mohamadi GHaletaky S. (2015). TheRelationship between social support and sense of humor on life expectancy in the elderly Yazd. Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 1(4), 24-35. [Persian]
Carrasco, M., Fernández, M. B., Alexander, E., & Herrera, M. S. (2021). Loneliness in older Chilean people: Importance of family dysfunction and depression. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 23(1), 99–109. 
Eslamy, F., Rostami, M., Saadati, N. (2018). Effectiveness of group reality therapy in decreasing procrastination and increasing responsibility of student. Journal of Modern Psychological Researches, 13(51), 1-21. [Persian]
Esmaili Shad, B., Ghasemi, M., & Mortazavi Kiasari, F. (2019). The Relationship between health literacy and quality of life with the mediating role of social adjustment in the elderly. Journal of Excellence in Counseling and Psychotherapy8(31), 1-14. [Persian]
Färber, F., & Rosendahl, J. (2020). Trait resilience and mental health in older adults: A meta-analytic review. Personality and Mental Health, 14, 361–375.
Ghamati, H., Ehsani, M., Kuzechian, H., & Saffari, M. (2021). An Identification of factors affecting the continuous participation of the elderly in physical activities of leisure time. Sport Physiology & Management Investigations13(1), 41-59. [Persian]
Greenblatt-Kimron, L., Kestler-Peleg, M., Even-Zohar, A., & Lavenda, O. (2021). Death anxiety and loneliness among older adults: role of parental self-efficacy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 98-117.
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Hinrichsen, A. G. (2020). Assessment and treatment of older adults: A Guide for mental health professionals. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Homaei, R., & pooyanmehr, M. (2018). The relationship between health promoting life styles and sleep quality with social adjustment and life expectancy among elderly. Aging Psychology3(4), 271-280. [Persian]
Jafari, A., Hesampour, F. (2017). Predicting life satisfaction based on spiritual intelligence and psychological capital in older people. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 12 (1), 90-103. [Persian]
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Kim, J. (2018). Effectiveness of reality therapy program for schizophrenic patient. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67(1), 70-83.
Law, F. M., & Guo, G. J. (2014). The impact of reality therapy on self-efficacy for substance-involved female offenders in Taiwan. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 58(4), 672-696.                    
Martins, J. A., Merighi, M. A. B., Jesus, M. C. P., & Watanabe, H. A. W. (2019). Aging with physical disabilities: experience intersected by stigma, social isolation and finitude. Esc Anna Nery [Internet], 22(4), 45-66.
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Mottern, R. (2017). Working with Forensic Clients in Quality Education: Tools of the Trade. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 9(2), 54-61.
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Olyani, S., Peyman, N. (2021). Assessment of the subjective wellbeing of the elderly During the COVID-19 Disease Pandemic in Mashhad. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 16 (1), 62-73. [Persian]
Pahlevanian A A, Najarian R, Adabi S, Mirshoja M S. (2020). The Prevalence of fall and related factors in iranian elderly: A systematic review. jrehab, 21 (3), 286-303. [Persian]
Prenzlau, S. (2016). Using reality Therapy to reduce PTSD-Related symptoms. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 25(2), 23-39.
Puts, M. T. E., Toubasi, S., Andrew, M. K., Ashe, M. C., Ploeg, J., & Atkinson, E. (2017). Interventions to prevent or reduce the level of frailty in community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review of the literature and international policies. Age Ageing, 46(34), 383–392.
Ryff, C. D. (2012). Understanding Positive Aging as an Integrated Biopsychosocial Process. Wisconsin-Madison: Institute on aging; University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
 Ryff, C. D. (2018). Well-being with soul: science in pursuit of human potential. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(4), 242–258.
Schoenborn, N. L., Lee, K., Pollack, C. E., Armacost, K., Dy, S. M., & Bridges, J. F. P. (2017). Older adults’ views and communication preferences about cancer screening cessation. JAMA Intern Med, 177(45), 1–9.
Snyder, C. R. (2000). Conceptualizing, measuring, and nurturing hope. Journal of Counseling and Development, 73(12), 355-360.
Vahedi Kojnagh, H., Afshari, A., Rezaei Malajagh, R., Eghbali, A., & Taheri, M. (2020). The Prediction of the elderly’s life satisfaction based on health-promoting lifestyle. Aging Psychology6(3), 297-285. https://doi.org/10.22126/jap.2020.5626.1455. [Persian]
Weinberg, A., Besser, V., & Zeigler-Hill, K. (2016). Bidirectional associations between hope, optimism and social support, and trauma-related symptoms among survivors of terrorism and their spouses. Journal of Research in Personality, 62(2), 29-39.
Westerhof, G. J., Whitbourne, S. K., & Freeman, G. P. (2019). The aging self in a cultural context: The relation of conceptions of aging to identity processes and self-esteem in the United States and the Netherlands. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67(1), 52-60.
Yadegari R, Yousefi Afrashteh M, Hayati M, Ebrahimi L. (2021). The Relationship of religious orientation with psychological wellbeing in elderly people: the mediating role of spiritual health. Islamic Life Style, 5 (3), 85-94. [Persian]
Zhang, J., Peng, J., & Gao, P. (2019). Relationship between meaning in life and death anxiety in the elderly: self-esteem as a mediator. BMC Geriatric, 6(3), 308-319.
Zweidawi J, Safarzadeh S. (2021). Effectiveness of group reality therapy on social well-being, life expectancy and locus of control in women with obsessive-compulsive disorder. IJPN, 8 (6), 106-117. [Persian]

Keywords


eferences
Abedi, N., Tashk, A., Khezri Moghadam, N, and Ebrahimi, M, (2019, April). The effectiveness of administration based on acceptance and commitment on the anxiety of the death of the elderly. Paper presented in the National Conference on Research and Innovation in Psychology, with a special look on the third wave therapies approach, Babylonia. [Persian]
Bahadori Khosroshahi, J., & Habibi Kalibar, R. (2016). Effectiveness of group reality therapy on psychological capital, self-worth and social well-being of elderly people. Journal of Aging Psychology, 2(3), 153-165. [Persian]
Balista, V. G. (2013). Sistema de realidade virtual para avaliaço e reabilitaçode. déficit motor. Workshop on Virtual, Augmented Reality and Games – Full Papers (pp.16-18). Vitoria: FAESA.
Barzegar Bafrooei K, Ahali Abadeh M, Mohamadi GHaletaky S. (2015). TheRelationship between social support and sense of humor on life expectancy in the elderly Yazd. Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 1(4), 24-35. [Persian]
Carrasco, M., Fernández, M. B., Alexander, E., & Herrera, M. S. (2021). Loneliness in older Chilean people: Importance of family dysfunction and depression. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 23(1), 99–109. 
Eslamy, F., Rostami, M., Saadati, N. (2018). Effectiveness of group reality therapy in decreasing procrastination and increasing responsibility of student. Journal of Modern Psychological Researches, 13(51), 1-21. [Persian]
Esmaili Shad, B., Ghasemi, M., & Mortazavi Kiasari, F. (2019). The Relationship between health literacy and quality of life with the mediating role of social adjustment in the elderly. Journal of Excellence in Counseling and Psychotherapy8(31), 1-14. [Persian]
Färber, F., & Rosendahl, J. (2020). Trait resilience and mental health in older adults: A meta-analytic review. Personality and Mental Health, 14, 361–375.
Ghamati, H., Ehsani, M., Kuzechian, H., & Saffari, M. (2021). An Identification of factors affecting the continuous participation of the elderly in physical activities of leisure time. Sport Physiology & Management Investigations13(1), 41-59. [Persian]
Greenblatt-Kimron, L., Kestler-Peleg, M., Even-Zohar, A., & Lavenda, O. (2021). Death anxiety and loneliness among older adults: role of parental self-efficacy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 98-117.
Hernandez, J.C., & Overholser S.C. (2020). A systematic review of interventions for hope/hopelessness in older adults. Clin Gerontol.
Hinrichsen, A. G. (2020). Assessment and treatment of older adults: A Guide for mental health professionals. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Homaei, R., & pooyanmehr, M. (2018). The relationship between health promoting life styles and sleep quality with social adjustment and life expectancy among elderly. Aging Psychology3(4), 271-280. [Persian]
Jafari, A., Hesampour, F. (2017). Predicting life satisfaction based on spiritual intelligence and psychological capital in older people. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 12 (1), 90-103. [Persian]
Katelyn, N. G., Long, E. S., Kim, L., Ying Chen, J., Matthew, F., Wilson, L., Worthington, J., Tyler, J., & VanderWeele, L. (2020). The role of Hope in subsequent health and well-being for older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach. Global Epidemiology, 23(12), 56-77.
Kim, J. (2018). Effectiveness of reality therapy program for schizophrenic patient. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67(1), 70-83.
Law, F. M., & Guo, G. J. (2014). The impact of reality therapy on self-efficacy for substance-involved female offenders in Taiwan. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 58(4), 672-696.                    
Martins, J. A., Merighi, M. A. B., Jesus, M. C. P., & Watanabe, H. A. W. (2019). Aging with physical disabilities: experience intersected by stigma, social isolation and finitude. Esc Anna Nery [Internet], 22(4), 45-66.
Moradi Shahrebabak, F., Ghanbari Hashemabadi, B., & Aghamohammadi Ansherbaf, H. (2011). The effectiveness of reality therapy in group method to enhance the self-esteem of the students of Ferdowsi university of Mashhad. Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling11(2), 42-61. [Persian]
Mottern, R. (2017). Working with Forensic Clients in Quality Education: Tools of the Trade. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 9(2), 54-61.
Nezamdoust Sedehi, M., Borjali, A., poursharifi, H., Kraskian Mujembari, A., & Seirafi, M. (2018). The Relationship between hope and sense of coherence with psychosocial well-being among older people: Mediating role of attitude toward death. Aging Psychology4(3), 179-195. [Persian]
Olyani, S., Peyman, N. (2021). Assessment of the subjective wellbeing of the elderly During the COVID-19 Disease Pandemic in Mashhad. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 16 (1), 62-73. [Persian]
Pahlevanian A A, Najarian R, Adabi S, Mirshoja M S. (2020). The Prevalence of fall and related factors in iranian elderly: A systematic review. jrehab, 21 (3), 286-303. [Persian]
Prenzlau, S. (2016). Using reality Therapy to reduce PTSD-Related symptoms. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 25(2), 23-39.
Puts, M. T. E., Toubasi, S., Andrew, M. K., Ashe, M. C., Ploeg, J., & Atkinson, E. (2017). Interventions to prevent or reduce the level of frailty in community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review of the literature and international policies. Age Ageing, 46(34), 383–392.
Ryff, C. D. (2012). Understanding Positive Aging as an Integrated Biopsychosocial Process. Wisconsin-Madison: Institute on aging; University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
 Ryff, C. D. (2018). Well-being with soul: science in pursuit of human potential. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(4), 242–258.
Schoenborn, N. L., Lee, K., Pollack, C. E., Armacost, K., Dy, S. M., & Bridges, J. F. P. (2017). Older adults’ views and communication preferences about cancer screening cessation. JAMA Intern Med, 177(45), 1–9.
Snyder, C. R. (2000). Conceptualizing, measuring, and nurturing hope. Journal of Counseling and Development, 73(12), 355-360.
Vahedi Kojnagh, H., Afshari, A., Rezaei Malajagh, R., Eghbali, A., & Taheri, M. (2020). The Prediction of the elderly’s life satisfaction based on health-promoting lifestyle. Aging Psychology6(3), 297-285. https://doi.org/10.22126/jap.2020.5626.1455. [Persian]
Weinberg, A., Besser, V., & Zeigler-Hill, K. (2016). Bidirectional associations between hope, optimism and social support, and trauma-related symptoms among survivors of terrorism and their spouses. Journal of Research in Personality, 62(2), 29-39.
Westerhof, G. J., Whitbourne, S. K., & Freeman, G. P. (2019). The aging self in a cultural context: The relation of conceptions of aging to identity processes and self-esteem in the United States and the Netherlands. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67(1), 52-60.
Yadegari R, Yousefi Afrashteh M, Hayati M, Ebrahimi L. (2021). The Relationship of religious orientation with psychological wellbeing in elderly people: the mediating role of spiritual health. Islamic Life Style, 5 (3), 85-94. [Persian]
Zhang, J., Peng, J., & Gao, P. (2019). Relationship between meaning in life and death anxiety in the elderly: self-esteem as a mediator. BMC Geriatric, 6(3), 308-319.
Zweidawi J, Safarzadeh S. (2021). Effectiveness of group reality therapy on social well-being, life expectancy and locus of control in women with obsessive-compulsive disorder. IJPN, 8 (6), 106-117. [Persian]