OBJECTIVES: This study examined the extent to which cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for geriatric depression promoted meaning made of stress. DESIGN: Fifty-one participants received CBT and were assessed at pre- and post-treatment. METHODS: The primary outcome was the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) and demographic factors were examined as moderators of changes over time. RESULTS: Those with more education showed improvement in their ability to regain positive values, worldviews, and purpose in life after a stressor. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that CBT promotes some forms of meaning made of stress for those with higher education. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Cognitive-behavioural therapy as it is routinely practiced may help highly educated older adults regain their Footing in the World (e.g., maintain positive values, worldviews, and purpose in life) in the aftermath of a stressful life event. Cognitive-behavioural therapy appears to offer fewer gains for less educated older adults (in terms of Footing in the World) as well as for other aspects of meaning-making, such as the ability to 'make sense' of a significant stressor. Although more empirical work is necessary, meaning-oriented interventions (e.g., 're-authoring' a fragmented self-narrative; Neimeyer, 2009, p. 97) hold promise as useful adjuncts to routine therapy that could augment outcomes.
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the extent to which cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for geriatric depression promoted meaning made of stress. DESIGN: Fifty-one participants received CBT and were assessed at pre- and post-treatment. METHODS: The primary outcome was the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) and demographic factors were examined as moderators of changes over time. RESULTS: Those with more education showed improvement in their ability to regain positive values, worldviews, and purpose in life after a stressor. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that CBT promotes some forms of meaning made of stress for those with higher education. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Cognitive-behavioural therapy as it is routinely practiced may help highly educated older adults regain their Footing in the World (e.g., maintain positive values, worldviews, and purpose in life) in the aftermath of a stressful life event. Cognitive-behavioural therapy appears to offer fewer gains for less educated older adults (in terms of Footing in the World) as well as for other aspects of meaning-making, such as the ability to 'make sense' of a significant stressor. Although more empirical work is necessary, meaning-oriented interventions (e.g., 're-authoring' a fragmented self-narrative; Neimeyer, 2009, p. 97) hold promise as useful adjuncts to routine therapy that could augment outcomes.
Authors: Renee M Marquett; Larry W Thompson; Robert P Reiser; Jason M Holland; Ruth M O'Hara; Shelli R Kesler; Aleksandra Stepanenko; Ann Bilbrey; Johanna Rengifo; Annecy Majoros; Dolores Gallagher Thompson Journal: Aging Ment Health Date: 2013-04-30 Impact factor: 3.658
Authors: Maude Wagner; Anne-Josée Guimond; Laura D Kubzansky; Yingzhe Zhang; David A Bennett; Lisa L Barnes; Francine Grodstein Journal: Innov Aging Date: 2022-04-01
Authors: Eric S Kim; Carol Ryff; Afton Hassett; Chad Brummett; Charlotte Yeh; Victor Strecher Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2020-09 Impact factor: 3.864