Articles In Press
Back to the articles list |
Back to browse issues page
1- Department of Counseling, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Dez.C., Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran ,Kazemian174@iau.ac.ir
3- Department of Counseling, MaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Masjed Soleiman, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Dez.C., Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran ,
3- Department of Counseling, MaS.C., Islamic Azad University, Masjed Soleiman, Iran
Abstract: (17 Views)
Objective: Death anxiety and poor sleep quality are common problems in older adulthood that negatively affect both mental and physical health. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), emphasizing acceptance and mindfulness, may help alleviate these difficulties. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of ACT on death anxiety and sleep quality among older adults' women.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a 45-day follow-up stage. From among the elderly women referring to nursing homes, retirement associations, and counseling and psychological service centers related to the elderly in Sabzevar county in 2023, 30 individuals were selected purposefully and then, using a random number table, were assigned into an intervention group (15 individuals) and a control group (15 individuals). The intervention group received eight 90-minute sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (1970) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and analyzed through multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS version 26.
Results: Findings indicated that ACT significantly reduced death anxiety scores (η² = 0.30, P < 0.001) and markedly improved sleep quality (η² = 0.30, P < 0.001) in the posttest stage. The intervention effects remained stable at follow-up for both death anxiety (η² = 0.94, P < 0.001) and sleep quality (η² = 0.87, P < 0.001), demonstrating the sustained therapeutic impact of ACT.
Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be considered an effective and complementary approach for reducing death anxiety and improving sleep quality in older adult women. It is recommended that this therapeutic method be integrated into educational and care programs in geriatric health centers.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a 45-day follow-up stage. From among the elderly women referring to nursing homes, retirement associations, and counseling and psychological service centers related to the elderly in Sabzevar county in 2023, 30 individuals were selected purposefully and then, using a random number table, were assigned into an intervention group (15 individuals) and a control group (15 individuals). The intervention group received eight 90-minute sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (1970) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and analyzed through multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS version 26.
Results: Findings indicated that ACT significantly reduced death anxiety scores (η² = 0.30, P < 0.001) and markedly improved sleep quality (η² = 0.30, P < 0.001) in the posttest stage. The intervention effects remained stable at follow-up for both death anxiety (η² = 0.94, P < 0.001) and sleep quality (η² = 0.87, P < 0.001), demonstrating the sustained therapeutic impact of ACT.
Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be considered an effective and complementary approach for reducing death anxiety and improving sleep quality in older adult women. It is recommended that this therapeutic method be integrated into educational and care programs in geriatric health centers.
Keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Death Anxiety, Sleep Quality, Elderly, Mental Health
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
Copyright © The Author(s);
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Contact Information
