The Efficacy of Life-Review as Online-Guided Self-help for Adults: A Randomized Trial
Open Access
- 1 April 2014
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
- Vol. 70 (1), 24-34
- https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbu030
Abstract
The study used a randomized controlled trial to investigate the short-term and long-term effects of life-review as online-guided self-help in adults (40+) with moderate depressive symptomatology. We evaluated ego-integrity and rumination as mediators and assessed whether the effects of the intervention did not differ across middle-aged and older adults. Effects of life-review (n = 58) were compared with a waiting list group (n = 58) and an expressive writing intervention (n = 58) on depressive symptoms (primary outcome), anxiety, and well-being (secondary outcomes). Mediator and moderator analyses were also applied. Compared with the waiting list, life-review reduced depressive symptoms (d = 0.35) and enhanced emotional (d = 0.16) and psychological well-being (d = 0.27). Life-review was not more effective than expressive writing. The effects on depressive symptoms were partly related with increases in ego-integrity and decreases in rumination. The intervention is applicable for middle-aged and older adults. Life-review is effective as self-help for middle-aged and older adults with moderate depressive symptomatology compared with a waiting list group. Future research should investigate whether stimulating ego-integrity and reducing rumination enhance the effects of the intervention.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- The effects of integrative reminiscence on meaning in life: Results of a quasi- experimental studyAging & Mental Health, 2008
- The effects of reminiscence on psychological well-being in older adults: A meta-analysisAging & Mental Health, 2007
- Clinical Effects of Reminiscence Therapy in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Controlled TrialsHong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2007
- Empirical Validation of a Model of Reminiscence and Health in Later LifeThe Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2006
- Understanding cognitive behaviour therapy: A retrieval competition accountBehaviour Research and Therapy, 2006
- Effects of reminiscence and life review on late‐life depression: a meta‐analysisInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2003
- Reminiscence as autobiographical memory: a catalyst for reminiscence theory developmentAgeing and Society, 1998
- BRIEF COMMUNICATION.Psychological Medicine, 1997
- The client satisfaction questionnaireEvaluation and Program Planning, 1982
- The Life Review: An Interpretation of Reminiscence in the AgedPsychiatry: Interpersonal & Biological Processes, 1963