Comparison of the Effectiveness of Treatment Based on Acceptance and Commitment and Therapy Based on Mindfulness on Death Anxiety and Loneliness of the Elderly

Aging is one of the most important stages of human life, during which people face a wide range of physiological and psychological changes. Among these changes, issues such as death anxiety and loneliness are important. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based therapy and mindfulness-based therapy on death anxiety and loneliness in the elderly. The design of the current research was semi-experimental in the pre-test-post-test manner with a control group. The statistical population included all the elderly living in Mehrgan Asylum in Kermanshah in 1401, of which 45 eligible people were selected by voluntary sampling and randomly assigned to three groups by considering the entry and exit criteria. The instrument of research was the Cult-Lester’s death anxiety questionnaire and Dashiri feeling of loneliness. The interventions of the two groups were carried out in 8 sessions of 90 minutes and twice a week. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 software and multivariate analysis of covariance tests and BENFERRONI’S post hoc tests with a probability value of 0/05. The results showed that the therapy based on acceptance and commitment and the therapy based on mindfulness were effective in reducing the death anxiety and loneliness of these elderly people (P=0/000). Also, no significant difference was observed between the two treatments (p=1). According to the results of the research, it can be said that the use of these treatment methods is useful and effective in improving the death anxiety and loneliness of the elderly.