نشریه روانشناسی پیری
سال دهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 37، تابستان 1403)

COVID-19, an emerging disease with a global reach and high mortality rates in vulnerable populations, has caused not only physical symptoms but also led to numerous psychological disorders in older adults. This study aimed to assess the impact of spiritual intelligence training on the mental health of older men affected by COVID-19. In terms of purpose, this research was practical, and in terms of its nature, it was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of the current research included all older men diagnosed with COVID-19 in Khorramabad city, among whom, a sample of 30 people was selected using convenience sampling method and according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). King's spiritual intelligence training protocol was utilized in the format of ten 90-minute group sessions. The questionnaire used in this research was the Goldberg & Hiller general health questionnaire. Data were analyzed using univariate covariance analysis (ANCOVA) in SPSS-22. The results indicated a significant improvement in mental health and its sub-scales in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.005), with controlling for the effect of the pre-test. These findings suggest that spiritual intelligence training can be used to improve mental health and its dimensions in older men with COVID-19.

One of the significant factors related to cognitive functions is a health-promoting lifestyle, alongside perceived stress. The consideration of the relationship between these factors, especially among older adults with hypertension, is of great importance. Therefore, this study aimed to model the structural relationships between a health-promoting lifestyle and cognitive functions, through the mediating role of perceived stress in older adults with hypertension. This descriptive research employed a correlational method using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of older adults with hypertension from health centers in Urmia during the first six months of 2023, among whom a sample of 250 individuals (135 men and 115 women) were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using Wilson et al.’s cognitive functions questionnaire, Walker et al.’s health-promoting lifestyle profile and the Cohen’s perceived stress scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients and SEM in SPSS-22 and AMOS software. The findings indicated a direct relationship between a health-promoting lifestyle and cognitive functions. Additionally, the bootstrap test showed that perceived stress mediates the relationship between a health-promoting lifestyle and cognitive functions. Specifically, 6% of the variance in cognitive functions was predicted by perceived stress, and 18% by a health-promoting lifestyle. Hence, it can be concluded that perceived stress mediates the relationship between a health-promoting lifestyle and cognitive functions. Therefore, psychologists and therapists in health centers, nursing homes, and psychological service clinics can focus on a health-promoting lifestyle and perceived stress to improve cognitive functions in older adults.

Aging is a sensitive period that the examining of different aspects of mental health during this phase becomes very important. Having life skills and not having the feeling of inadequacy at this age can help older adults to spend a better time personally and socially and to play a more adaptive role in interpersonal communication. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of examining social adequacy of older adults based on the theory of mind through the mediating role of life skills. This was a descriptive- correlational study using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population included all older adults living in care centers for older adults in Tabriz, Iran in the summer of 2023. The sample, selected using convenience sampling method, were 220 people who responded to Felner’s social adequacy, Qumrani et al.’s theory of mind, and Saatchi’s life skills questionnaires. The data were analyzed through Pearson’s correlation coefficient and SEM using SPSS-26 and Lisrel 8.8, respectively. The results revealed that there is a positive relationship between theory of mind with social adequacy and life skills, and there is also a positive relationship between life skills and social adequacy. Besides, life skills served a mediating role in the relationship between theory of mind and social adequacy. Therefore, it is concluded that by training and increasing life skills in older adults, their theory of mind and social adequacy can be improved, which may enhance their mental health.

The changes that occur in old age may lead to decreased health and life expectancy in older adults. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a positive education program based on the PERMA model on positive thinking and life expectancy in older men. This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all retired men registered at the Noorabad Mamasani retirement center in 2022. The sample consisted of 40 individuals selected using a convenience sampling method and according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly assigned into two control and experimental groups. The instruments used in this study were the Khodayarifard et al.’s Iranian Positive Thinking Scale and Miller hope Scale. After random selection, the experimental group received ten 90-minute weekly positive educational sessions based on the PERMA model. After the treatment was completed, post-tests were administered to both groups. Univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data. The results showed that the positive education program based on the PERMA model led to an increase in positive thinking and life expectancy in the experimental group compared to the control group. The findings of this research emphasize the importance of the education program based on the PERMA in improving positive thinking and life expectancy in older men. Therefore, it is beneficial to use this education program to support older adults.

Given the increasing older adult population in the near future in Iran, understanding the status of this age group in various domains, including physical health and mental well-being, has become increasingly important, necessitating attention to this demographic. Therefore, understanding the factors contributing to increased levels of successful aging and reduced death anxiety seems to be crucial. Considering that attachment styles play a significant role in shaping mental and physical health throughout life, this research aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment styles and successful aging and death anxiety with the mediating role of resilience. This was a descriptive-correlational study using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all older adults residing in Kermanshah, Iran during the years 2024-2025, among whom 332 individuals were selected using convenience sampling. The participants completed Zanjari’s successful aging, Templer’s death anxiety, Collins & Read’s attachment styles, and Connor & Davidson’s resilience questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS-24 and AMOS-24 software. The results indicated that the hypothesized model had a good fit with the studied sample. As such, secure attachment was related to successful aging and death anxiety through resilience. Furthermore, avoidant attachment was related to successful aging and death anxiety through resilience, and resilience mediated the relationship between ambivalent attachment style with successful aging and death anxiety. These findings emphasize the importance of fostering secure attachment and resilience in interventions aimed at enhancing successful aging and ultimately improving the well-being of older adults.

Given the increasing older adult population in the near future in Iran, understanding the status of this age group in various domains, including physical health and mental well-being, has become increasingly important, necessitating attention to this demographic. Therefore, understanding the factors contributing to increased levels of successful aging and reduced death anxiety seems to be crucial. Considering that attachment styles play a significant role in shaping mental and physical health throughout life, this research aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment styles and successful aging and death anxiety with the mediating role of resilience. This was a descriptive-correlational study using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all older adults residing in Kermanshah, Iran during the years 2024-2025, among whom 332 individuals were selected using convenience sampling. The participants completed Zanjari’s successful aging, Templer’s death anxiety, Collins & Read’s attachment styles, and Connor & Davidson’s resilience questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS-24 and AMOS-24 software. The results indicated that the hypothesized model had a good fit with the studied sample. As such, secure attachment was related to successful aging and death anxiety through resilience. Furthermore, avoidant attachment was related to successful aging and death anxiety through resilience, and resilience mediated the relationship between ambivalent attachment style with successful aging and death anxiety. These findings emphasize the importance of fostering secure attachment and resilience in interventions aimed at enhancing successful aging and ultimately improving the well-being of older adults.

Aging is a biological process and a sensitive life stage marked by spontaneous, progressive, and irreversible physiological and psychological changes. During this phase, individuals encounter common mental health issues such as death anxiety and resilience, both of which can be improved with appropriate therapeutic interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) on death anxiety and resilience in older adults. This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population included all older adults residing in all nursing homes in Shiraz. The sample consisted of 30 older adults (aged 60 to 90) residing in the Zagros Residential Care Center, selected through convenience sampling method and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and randomly assigned to two groups of 15 (experimental and control) during the winter of 2023. EFT was administered to the experimental group over eight 90-minute sessions, while the control group did not receive this therapy. Data were collected using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Data were analyzed by ANCOVA in SPSS-26. The findings showed that although EFT reduced resilience in the experimental group in the post-test phase, had no significant effect on death anxiety. In other words, there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups just in terms of resilience and its subscales (P<0.05) after the conduction of EFT. Therefore, EFT was effective in improving resilience among older adults. Hence, EFT is recommended as an effective method to improve the mental health of older adults, particularly in enhancing resilience.