Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Combined with Self-Compassion and Cognitive-Motor Activities Versus Cognitive-Motor Intervention Alone on Death Anxiety and Aging Perception in the Elderly

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy combined with self-compassion along with cognitive-motor activities versus cognitive-motor intervention alone on death anxiety and aging perception in the elderly.

Methods and Materials: 

The research method was quasi-experimental and of the pre-test, post-test type with a control group and a follow-up period. To this end, a sample consisting of 42 individuals (21 women and 21 men) over the age of 60 residing in Mashhad in 2021, who met the inclusion criteria, was selected. They were randomly assigned to three groups: the first experimental group (with cognitive-behavioral therapy combined with self-compassion along with cognitive-motor activities), the second experimental group (with cognitive-motor activities alone), and the control group (with no intervention). They underwent 18 sessions of 90 minutes over 9 weeks. Data obtained from the Templer Death Anxiety Questionnaire (1970) and the Slotman Aging Perception Questionnaire (2017) were analyzed using SPSS software and multivariate covariance analysis with repeated measures.

The results showed that for both variables, death anxiety and aging perception, there was a significant difference between the two experimental groups and the control group in both post-test and follow-up periods. However, the difference between the two experimental groups was not significant.

It appears that cognitive-behavioral therapy combined with self-compassion along with cognitive-motor activities, as well as cognitive-motor intervention alone, can be used to reduce death anxiety and improve the perception of aging in the elderly. These interventions can contribute to enhancing the quality of life and developing appropriate educational programs for them.