the effectiveness of existential therapy on health anxiety, loneliness and death anxiety in the elderly

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, UAE Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dubai, UAE.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Razi Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

A review of research shows that the elderly usually experiences more health anxiety, loneliness, and death anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of existential therapy on health anxiety, loneliness and death anxiety in the elderly.
Methods: This research is an applied and quasi-experimental research with a pre-test-post-test design and a follow-up period with a control group. From the statistical population of the elderly living in nursing homes in Tehran in 1400, 30 samples were selected by convenience sampling and randomly replaced in two experimental groups and control group. Thus, first the health anxiety, loneliness and death anxiety tests were performed for both groups, then the existential treatment plan was performed for the experimental group, but no intervention was applied for the control group. Finally, the post-test and follow-up test were performed. Both groups performed. Findings were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results: The results showed that the mean scores of post-test and follow-up test of health anxiety, loneliness and death anxiety in the experimental group decreased and the results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that painting therapy intervention reduced anxiety. Health, loneliness and death anxiety of the elderly are effective (p <0.001).
Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of existential therapy, the necessity of using existential therapy on psychological and emotional problems of the elderly, especially reducing health anxiety, loneliness and death anxiety is essential.

Keywords

Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences
Volume 66, Issue 1
May and June 2023

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