An Investigation on Cognitive-Behavioral Approach on Anxiety Reduction and Elderly People

Abstract

Introduction & Objective: Elderly people are exposed to various types of conditions associated with physical and mental health problems, due to their age, physical, situational status, etc. Anxiety and stress are one of the most common disorders associated with aging, therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral approach on decreasing anxiety and stress among elderly people.

Research Method: This is a quasi-experimental study. To this end, 30 elderly people with anxiety and stress criteria were selected and assigned randomly in experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent 10 sessions of cognitive-behavioral training, while the control group did not receive it. Before the beginning of cognitive-behavioral sessions, both groups completed control and testing of the DASS anxiety and stress questionnaire and the data were analyzed through multiple covariance analysis.

Finding: The results showed that cognitive-behavioral approach significantly decreased the anxiety and stress in the experimental group compared with the control group.

Conclusion: Changing mental and behavioral patterns in elderly people is a key factor in increasing mental health and reducing the harmful factors such as anxiety and stress, which should be considered in the approach of these people and the cognitive behavioral approach are effective and efficient in this field.