Investigating the Effect of Contemplation of the Quranic Chapters on Self-care and Happiness of the Elderly Women in Tehran; A Single Blind Randomized Trial

Based on the importance of spirituality and religious teachings in improving the mental health of the elderly and taking into account research records and cultural considerations of the Iranian society which has a deep connection with religion and spirituality, this study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of contemplation of the holy chapters of the Quran on the happiness and self-care of elderly women in Tehran.

This fundamental applied study is a type of non-clinical intervention study. The statistical population of the study consisted of Muslim women aged 60-75 living in Tehran. In this experimental study, with sample size of 40, after obtaining written informed consent, the participants were randomly divided into two groups: Contemplation (Tadabbor) and the Holy Quran Reading. Oxford Happiness and Yonesi Borojeni's Self-Care questionnaires were administered to the two groups, before and immediately after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using t-tests, paired samples t-tests and repeated measures analysis. In this study, all ethical considerations were observed and the authors reported no conflict of interests.

The average self-care index was 103 (out of 145) and 110 in the Contemplation Group before and after the intervention, respectively, with a significant difference (P<0.005). In the Quran Reading Group, before and after the intervention, the values were 103 and 106, respectively (P<0.06). The average happiness index in the intervention group increased from 42.6 in the pre-intervention stage to 46.9 in the post-intervention stage, and these values in the control group changed from 43.3 in the previous stage to 46.4 in the next stage. The results of paired samples t-test before and after the intervention showed a significant increase in happiness in the Contemplation Group (P<0.003).

Participating in contemplation sessions or reading at least two pages of the Holy Quran on a daily basis, preferably the first method, increases the level of self-care and happiness in above 60 year old women.