Search

This study aims to review the use of reminiscence interventions in the reduction of loneliness in older adults by categorising the interventions by type, and comparing their effectiveness and methodological quality. This is a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. The search was restricted to studies published in the Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science, Psycarticles, Psycinfo, and PubMed databases until December 2022. The inclusion criteria for the studies included in this review were: 1) reminiscence intervention 2) loneliness outcome measure 3) adults over 60 years old 4) experimental, pre-experimental, and quasi-experimental studies. A total of twelve studies were eligible for inclusion. Only nine studies included a control group, and seven of those report significant effectiveness in reducing loneliness levels. The most popular type of intervention is simple reminiscence and life review, and in-group format. The interventions to date have been very heterogeneous, and the methodological quality of the existing literature is moderate to weak. While reminiscence interventions hold some promise for reducing loneliness levels among older adults, future methodologically rigorous research is required, and standardised protocols need to be developed for application, with the specific aim of reducing levels of loneliness among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drama therapy has been found to improve various facets of mental health while aging. It provides opportunities for personal growth and creative expression and enhances group relationships. Drama therapy is a widely acknowledged way to explore the life stories in late life. However, only a handful of studies have empirically explored the value of drama therapy for the aging population. This conceptual analysis was designed to address this need by developing a new integrative model of drama therapy. The analysis is based on the review of the results of four studies that explored the integration of life-review and playback theater as a drama therapy approach for older adults. The therapeutic process focused on the exploration of life-crossroads stories, a short unique technique which enables the participants to craft a harmonious view of their life stories in a short-term dramatic creative group process. Combining the four results yielded a multidimensional model which points to three potential transformative routes: the evolution of the life story, the evolution of improvised dramatic expression, and the expansion of social engagement. The transformative routes are described through the lens of role theory in drama therapy.

Drama therapy has been found to improve various facets of mental health while aging. It provides opportunities for personal growth and creative expression and enhances group relationships. Drama therapy is a widely acknowledged way to explore the life stories in late life. However, only a handful of studies have empirically explored the value of drama therapy for the aging population. This conceptual analysis was designed to address this need by developing a new integrative model of drama therapy. The analysis is based on the review of the results of four studies that explored the integration of life-review and playback theater as a drama therapy approach for older adults. The therapeutic process focused on the exploration of life-crossroads stories, a short unique technique which enables the participants to craft a harmonious view of their life stories in a short-term dramatic creative group process. Combining the four results yielded a multidimensional model which points to three potential transformative routes: the evolution of the life story, the evolution of improvised dramatic expression, and the expansion of social engagement. The transformative routes are described through the lens of role theory in drama therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:This paper examines the contribution of a new group of therapeutic interventions for older adults, based on a rudimentary life-review intervention. The intervention includes narrative elements together with drama therapy. The current study examines the influence of this therapeutic intervention on key indicators of mental health and psychological well-being among older adults. Method:Fifty-five people(n = 55),ranging in age from 62 to 93, participated in a before–after study design. The following indices – meaning in life, self-acceptance, relationships with others, depressive symptoms, and experience of successful aging – were compared between an intervention group (n= 27) and a care-as-usual control group (n= 28). Results:Repeated measures analyses of variance showed a significant improvement over time in the experimental group. In addition, results also showed time-group interaction regarding the treatment's effectiveness for self-acceptance, relationships with others, sense of meaning in life, sense of successful aging, and depressive symptoms. Conclusion:Our findings confirm that the new therapeutic intervention, which integrates life-review with drama therapy, increases self-acceptance, relationships with others, sense of meaning in life, and sense of successful aging; in turn, it also decreases depressive symptoms among older adults. The contribution of this research is based on the development of a therapeutic intervention that combines narrative together with drama therapy tools, which can be used in focused and short-term group treatments with the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]