Efficacy of group reminiscence therapy based on Chinese traditional festival activities (CTFA-GRT) on loneliness and perceived stress of rural older adults living alone in China: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the efficacy of group reminiscence therapy based on Chinese traditional festival activities (CTFA-GRT) to mediate the loneliness and perceived stress of older adults living alone in rural China. The results can provide a scientific foundation for improving psychological health.

Method

A randomized controlled trial of 64 (aged 65.70 ± 3.69 years) Chinese rural older adults living alone was conducted. They were randomly divided into either an eight-month intervention group or a control group. The perceived stress scale (PSS) and the UCLA loneliness scale (UCLA-LS) evaluated the perceived stress and loneliness of the two groups at three different times. A repeated-measures analysis of variance model was used to compare each outcome measure of the two groups.

Results

The CTFA-GRT yielded a benefit for the perceived stress and loneliness of rural older adults living alone in the intervention group. Combined with a simple effects test, the PSS and UCLA-LS of those in the intervention groups significantly decreased at eight months after the baseline (F _PSS = 23.540, F _UCLA-LS = 40.159; all P < 0.01). In addition, the sustainable effect of this program lasted three months after the intervention (F _PSS = 65.756, F _UCLA-LS = 60.983; all P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The CTFA-GRT significantly decreased the perceived stress and loneliness of rural older adults living alone in China.

KEYWORDS:

• Chinese rural older adults living alone
• group reminiscence therapy
• perceived stress
• loneliness

Trial registration::

• chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR2000037935.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all of the study participants.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This study received support from the Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Sciences Research Youth Fund Project, China (no.17YJCZH092) and the Public Welfare Program for Key Science and Technology Projects in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China (no. 2019GZ27).