JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY (JOGE)
Year:2024 | Volume:8 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Introduction: The prevalence of psychological problems in elderly women is high, and interventions are needed to solve these problems. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of yoga therapy techniques on resilience and death anxiety of elderly women in Shahrbabak city. Method: The research method was semi-experimental and pre-test, post-test with a control group. The statistical population included all the elderly women of Shahrbabak city in 1402, 30 elderly women (15 people of the experimental group and 15 people of the control group) were selected by the available sampling method. Data collection tools were Connor and Davidson's (2003) resilience questionnaires and Templer's (1970) death anxiety questionnaire. The intervention of yoga therapy techniques was performed on the experimental group and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data analysis was done with descriptive tests (mean and standard deviation) and covariance analysis using SPSS version 25 software. P level less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: in the resilience variable, the mean and standard deviation of the experimental group in the pre-test was 56.55±5.74 and in the post-test it was 67.82±6.12 and in the death anxiety variable, the mean and standard deviation of the experimental group in the pre-test 11.87±3.04 test and 7.15±2.12 in the post-test. The results of covariance analysis also showed that yoga therapy techniques had an effect on endurance and death anxiety of elderly women (P<0.01). Conclusion: Based on the research findings, yoga therapy techniques can be used to reduce the mental problems of elderly women.

Introduction: Depression is one of the common disorders of the elderly and this disorder is affected by psychological treatments. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive therapy based on awareness on rumination and negative spontaneous thoughts in the elderly with depressive disorder. Method: The research method was semi-experimental with experimental and control groups. The statistical population of this research included all the elderly people who referred to the counseling and psychological services center in Amol city (from the 10th of Mehr 1400 to the 10th of Khordad 1401). Sampling was available and 30 people who got the highest score in the Beck Depression Questionnaire (1961) were selected as a sample and then randomly assigned 15 people to the experimental group and 15 people to the control group by lottery. ¬Kashi were allocated. The experimental group underwent cognitive therapy training based on mindfulness for 8 sessions, once a week for 90 minutes. While the control group did not receive any intervention. In order to collect data, Beck's depression questionnaire (1961), Nalen-Hoeksma and Maro's rumination questionnaire (1991) and Kendall and Halon's negative spontaneous thoughts questionnaire (1980) were used. In order to analyze the data, descriptive tests (mean and standard deviation) and covariance analysis were used with SPSS version 24 software. Results: The results showed that cognitive therapy based on awareness has an effect on rumination and negative spontaneous thoughts of the elderly with depressive disorder (P<0.005). Conclusion: According to the results of this research, the use of cognitive therapy intervention based on mindfulness can be suggested in reducing rumination and negative spontaneous thoughts in the elderly with major depressive disorder.

Introduction: The prevalence of psychological problems in the elderly with mild Alzheimer's is high, which requires interventions to solve these problems. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment on executive function and working memory of elderly people with mild Alzheimer's disease. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental and pre-test, post-test with a control group. The statistical population included all elderly people with mild Alzheimer's disease in Kerman city in 2023, 30 people (15 people from the experimental group and 15 people from the control group) were selected by available sampling method. The data collection tool was the executive function questionnaires of Gerrard et al. (2000) and the working memory questionnaire of Enbeck (1985). The treatment intervention of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation in 10 sessions of 20 to 30 minutes and twice a week was performed on the experimental group and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data analysis was done with descriptive tests (mean and standard deviation) and covariance analysis using SPSS version 24 software. The level of P less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: in the executive function variable, the mean and standard deviation of the experimental group in the pre-test was 146.92±16.74 and in the post-test 192.82±16.37 and in the working memory variable, the mean and standard deviation of the experimental group in the pre-test 36.19 ± 7.40 in the test and 68.59 ± 6.43 in the post-test. The results of covariance analysis also showed that repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment had an effect on the executive function and working memory of the elderly with mild Alzheimer's disease (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Based on the research findings, the treatment of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation can be used to increase the active memory of the elderly with mild Alzheimer's.

Introduction: Older people are exposed to the risk of decline in mobility and social relations. While evidence indicates that recreational travel can have biopsychosocial benefits for older adults and improve their quality of life. The aim of the current study is to investigate the feasibility of one day tours for Tehranian older adults. Method: This study has utilized the cost-benefit analysis method, developed and introduced by Dupuit. First, the demographic, geographic and economical capacities related to tourism in Tehran were searched, identified and reported, then the expenses and income of one unit of the tours were calculated. Finally, the profit of project's implementation was analyzed. Results: With a population of over one million older adults and access to a significant number of cultural, historical, and recreational sites, Tehran is considered as a suitable place for senior tourism. The minimum profit margin for the implementation of one-day tours for older adults is estimated at 31%. Conclusion: The implementation of one-day tours for Tehranian older adults can improve their quality of life and be profitable for investors. It is suggested that the state sector supports these activities by subsidiary payments.

Introduction: Reducing stubbornness in the face of mental problems and the possibility of suicide are among the common problems at the end of life. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of compassion therapy on psychological toughness and suicidal thoughts in the elderly with depression in Kerman. Methodology: The research method was experimental and pre-test, post-test with a control group. The statistical population included all the elderly people of Kerman city in 2022, 30 elderly people (15 people of the experimental group and 15 people of the control group) were selected by the purposive sampling method. Data collection tools were Psychological Hardness (AHS) and Beck Suicidal Thoughts (BSSI) questionnaires. The intervention of compassion therapy techniques from Gilbert (2007) was performed on the experimental group and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data analysis was done with covariance analysis using SPSS version 25 software. The level of P less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The results of covariance analysis also showed that compassion therapy had an effect on psychological toughness and suicidal thoughts in the elderly with depression (P<0.01). The amount of this effect, based on the squared value of eta, was 48 percent on increasing psychological toughness and 39 percent on reducing suicidal thoughts. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, compassion therapy can be used to reduce the psychological problems in the elderly with depression.

Introduction: Stress is an inevitable reality in life that can have a significant impact on one's physical and mental health and can suppress the immune system.The imperative need to examine the well-being of the elderly is that they are exposed to a lot of risks in the effects of events such as the end of employment and retirement, loss of spouses and friends, separation of children from their families, loneliness, rejection, and the pressures resulting from the industrialization of societies that leads to emotional detachment and psychological problems. Stress depends on the cultural and social aspects that vary from country to country. Nationality is one of the indicators of cultural difference. Culture includes ethnicity, race, religion, age, gender, family values, area in which a country is located and many other features that can affect psychopathology. This study aimed to determine the level of stress and related factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the elderly and adults of the Zoroastrian community residing in Tehran. Method: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 123 elderly and 201 adult Zoroastrians residing in Tehran, using data collection through online questionnaires. The study gathered data through a two-part questionnaire comprising a demographic questionnaire and the Covid Stress Scale (CSS). The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 25 statistical software. Results: Findings indicate that the level of COVID-19 stress in the elderly, with a mean of 16.59 ± 47.16, is lower than in adults with a mean of 16.93 ± 56.93, showing a significant difference (t(322) = -4.908, p < 0.001). In both elderly and adults, stress is mild. Conclusion: The study results suggest that in general, the elderly experience less stress compared to adults. Additionally, being female, married, having children, having a chronic illness, and exposure of relatives to COVID-19 or their death due to it contribute to increased COVID-19 stress.

Introduction:Wrist fractures are the most common arm fractures in older adults. The impact of wrist fractures of older women as family care givers has been less studied than that of other types and so, less is known about the factors related to the quality of life of these fractures. This study is aimed to assess the quality of life of older women as family caregivers with wrist fractures. Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study included 200 older women aged 65 or more as family caregivers with wrist fractures in selected medical centers affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, 2022 through continuous sampling. The data collection tool included the demographic characteristics form and the IOF QLQ quality of life questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS-20 software. Results:The results showed that the mean score of the total quality of life of the subjects was 44.22 ± 20.41. The quality of life of 43.5% of the participants was bad and the quality of life of other participants (56.5%) was good. Poor economic status with a standard coefficient of 0.208 was the most related factor to the variable of the quality of life of the elderly women. Conclusion:Despite the fact that about half of the women had a good quality of life, a significant percentage of the remaining women had a bad quality of life, which could probably be due to a low pain tolerance threshold or inability to perform activity of daily living which need family and social support.

Introduction: Retirees bear many psychological and social pressures due to the simultaneous retirement age and old age. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out interventions aimed at reducing psychological distress and improving their social cohesion. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of life review therapy on psychological distress and social cohesion of retired teachers. Methods: The current research was experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of this research was all the retired teachers of Birjand city in 2022 in the number of 290 people, of which 40 people who met the conditions to enter the research were selected by purposive sampling and divided into experimental (20 people) and control (20 people) group. The experimental group received a 2-hour session every week for 6 sessions in a group manner, and the control group did not receive the training during this period of time. Psychological distress questionnaires by Kesler et al. and social cohesion by Paskarla et al. were the research tools. To analyze the data, multivariate covariance analysis was used in the SPSS-26 software environment. Results: According to the findings, in the variable of psychological distress, the mean and standard deviation of the scores in the pre-test were 38.35 and 0.44 respectively in the post-test and 19.1 and 0.34 respectively. Regarding the variable of social cohesion, the mean and standard deviation of the scores in the pre-test were 0.54 and 0.82, respectively, and in the post-test were 95.5 and 0.78, respectively. The results of covariance analysis showed that therapeutic intervention based on life review was effective on psychological distress and social cohesion of retired teachers (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results indicate that life review therapy can be used to reduce psychological distress and increase the social cohesion of retirees.