Journal List > J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs > v.27(4) > 1058430

Han and Ha: Effectiveness of a Positive Psychology-based and Character Strengths-integrated Activity Program on Depression, Vitality, Life Satisfaction in Elderly Living Alone in Rural Areas

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop a positive psychology-based and character strengths-integrated activity program for elders living alone in rural areas, and then to examine the effectiveness of the program.

Methods

A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design with a nonequivalent control group was used. The participants included 59 elders in total, of whom 30 were assigned to the experimental group and 29 to the control group. positive psychology-based and character strengths-integrated activity program for elders consists of sixty-minute sessions held twice per week during 6 weeks, hence 12 sessions in total.

Results

There were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in depression, vitality and life satisfaction (all p<.001).

Conclusion

The positive psychology-based and character strengths-integrated activity program for elders living alone in rural areas is effective in that it decreased the degree of depression and increased the vitality and life satisfaction in the participants.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

A Character Strengths-based Integrated Activity Program on a Positive Psychology for Elderly Living Alone in Rural Areas

jkachn-27-299-i001
No Themes Concept of character strength Contents of a character strengths-based integrated activity program on a positive psychology
1 Introduce myself Vitality Play activity (20 min) - Introduce program
- Make nickname
Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (30 min) - Introduce myself with music
- Express my feelings
2 Who is best? Vitality Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (20 min) - Be pride of lovely son and grandson
- Make a soft ball with stocking
Play activity (30 min) - Game using a soft ball
- Express my feelings
3 Song with a music instrument which I make Vitality Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (20 min) - Make a music instrument 'Maracas' with a plastic bottle
Play activity (30 min) - Song 'Milyang Arirang' using a maracas
- Express my feelings
4 I'm a best model Vitality Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (20 min) - Talk about a dress which I like and I would like to wear
- Make a dress with a disposable raincoat
Play activity (30 min) - Do a fashion show with a dress which I Make
- Express my feelings
5 Lovely my hand Gratitude and love Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (50 min) - Make my hand with a plaster
- Express my feelings
6 Loving my friend Gratitude and love Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (50 min) - Make a crown cap
- Saying love you to their friends
- Express my feelings
7 Present for my loving person Gratitude and love Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (50 min) - Make a present with a clay for a loving person
- Express my feelings
8 Being with you Gratitude and love Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (50 min) - Doing a Group picture
- Express my feelings
9 Wonderful myself Hope Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (20 min) - Saying about their past event
- Make their face with fabulous stickers
Play activity (30 min) - Take a picture of my laughing face with a polaroid camera
- Express my feelings
10 Make a picture frame Hope Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (50 min) - Make a picture frame with fabulous stickers
- Express my feelings
11 Give a present to myself Hope Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (50 min) - Make a candy necklace
- Express my feelings
12 My wishes Hope Health activity (10 min) - Health clapping with a song 'what's wrong with my age'
Art activity (50 min) - Saying about my hope and plan
- Flying a Helium balloon with my hope and plan
- Express my feelings
Table 2

Homogeneity Test of General Characteristics in Elderly Living Alone in a Rural Area (N=59)

jkachn-27-299-i002
Characteristics Categories Exp. (n=30) Cont. (n=29) x2 or t (p)
n (%) or M±SD n (%) or M±SD
Gender Female 30 (100.0) 29 (100.0) -
Age (year) 77.13±5.18 77.68±5.63 −0.39 (.695)
MMSE-KC 23.33±2.42 22.24±2.70 1.63 (.108)
Educational level No education 20 (66.7) 26 (89.7) 5.03 (.081)
Elementary school 8 (26.7) 3 (10.3)
Middle school 2 (6.7) 0 (0.0)
Subjective health status Good 2 (6.7) 0 (0.0) 2.74 (.577)
Moderate 17 (56.7) 19 (63.3)
Poor 11 (36.7) 11 (36.7)

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group; Fisher's exact test.

Table 3

Homogeneity Test of Characteristics in Elderly Living Alone in a Rural Area (N=59)

jkachn-27-299-i003
Characteristics Exp. (n=30) Cont. (n=29) t (p)
M±SD M±SD
Depression (range: 0~15) 9.20±2.82 9.24±3.97 -0.05 (.963)
Vitality (range: 1~7) 3.02±0.56 3.28±0.71 −1.50 (.136)
Life satisfaction (range: 1~4) 2.27±0.22 2.35±0.24 −1.30 (.200)

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Table 4

Effectiveness of a Character Strengths-based Integrated Activity Program on Depression, Vitality, Life Satisfaction in Elderly Living Alone in Rural Areas (N=59)

jkachn-27-299-i004
Variables Groups Post Post
M±SD t (p) M±SD t (p)
Depression Exp. 9.20±2.82 −0.05 (.963) 2.93±2.24 −10.78 (<.001)
Cont. 9.24±3.97 10.13±2.86
Vitality Exp. 3.02±0.56 −1.50 (.136) 4.83±0.63 9.17 (<.001)
Cont. 3.28±0.71 3.21±0.72
Life satisfaction Exp. 2.27±0.22 −1.30 (.200) 2.91±0.17 11.81 (<.001)
Cont. 2.35±0.24 2.23±0.25

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Notes

This manuscript is based on a part of the first author's master's thesis from Gyeongsang National University.

References

1. Statistics Korea. Elderly statistics [Internet]. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;2015. cited 2015 December 2. Available from http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/2/6/1/index.board?bmode=read&aSeq=348565.
2. Jeong KH, Oh YH, Kang EN, Kim JH, Son WD, Oh MA. 2014 Survey for elderly. Research Report. Seoul: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2014. 12. Report No.: 11-13520000-00142612.
3. Son JA, Suh SR, Kim MH. Factors related to depression of rural elders. J Korean Gerontol Nurs. 2015; 17(1):56–64. DOI: 10.17079/jkgn.2015.17.1.56.
crossref
4. Jeong SS, Kim JS. Comparison of health behaviors and health level between elders living alone and those living with a spouse. Glob Health Nurs. 2014; 4(1):27–36.
5. Kwon SM. Positive personality of human. Seoul: Hakjisa;2011. p. 702.
6. Peterson C, Seligman MEP. Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. New York: Oxford University Press and Washington, DC;2004. p. 816.
7. Seligman ME, Steen TA, Park N, Peterson C. Positive psychology progress: empirical validation of interventions. Am Psychol. 2005; 60(5):410–421.
crossref
8. Proyer RT, Gander F, Wellenzohn S, Ruch W. Positive psychology interventions in people aged 50-79 years: Long-term effects of placebo-controlled online interventions on well-being and depression. Aging Ment Health. 2014; 18(8):997–1005. DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2014.899978.
9. Niemiec RM. VIA character strengths: Research and practice (The first 10 years). In : Knoop HH, Delle Fave A, editors. Wellbeing and cultures: Perspectives on positive psychology. New York: Springer;2013. p. 11–30.
10. Song KH. The structural relationship among the health belief, vitality and successful aging of the elderly. J Sport Leis Stud. 2014; 58(1):751–761.
crossref
11. Jung MR, Hwang MS. Factors affecting vitality in persons using elderly welfare facilities. J Korean Acad Soc Home Care Nurs. 2014; 21(1):5–13.
12. Choi SJ. A study on the development of measuring scale of the concept of life satisfaction. J Korean Cult Res Inst. 1986; 49:233–258.
13. Lee MS. Factors influencing life satisfaction the elderly living alone. J Korean Acad Adult Nurs. 2004; 16(1):17–26.
14. Jeon MS. The effects of social activity and leisure activity on life satisfaction of the rural elderly. J Korea Contents Assoc. 2014; 14(9):298–310. DOI: 10.5392/JKCA.2014.14.09.298.
crossref
15. Kim KM, Kim HY. The systemic contemplation of sadness mediation program applied to internal senior citizens. J Digit Converg. 2015; 13(12):391–400. DOI: 10.14400/JDC.2015.13.12.391.
crossref
16. Lee HJ. Developing and testing the effects of a group program for the low income depressed elderly women living alone which integrated positive psychology and solution-focused therapy [dissertation]. [Seoul]: Sungkyunkwan University;2013. 186.
17. Kim SH. Effects of positive psychology-based group art therapy on depression and happiness in the institutionalized elderly [master's thesis]. [Iksan]: Wonkwang University;2013. 19.
18. Han SM. Effectiveness of a character strengths-based positive psychotherapy on depression, life satisfaction, and quality of life among the depressed elderly [dissertation]. [Cheongju]: Chungbuk National University;2012. 77.
19. Lee JA. Effect of group positive psychotherapy program on depressed older adults [dissertation]. [Seoul]: Korea University;2012. 63.
20. Ryan RM, Frederick C. On energy, personality, and health: Subjective vitality as a dynamic reflection of well-being. J Pers. 1997; 65(3):529–565.
crossref
21. Kee BS. A preliminary study for the standardization of geriatric depression scale short form-Korea version. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 1996; 35(2):298–307.
22. Sheldon KM, Lyubomirsky S. How to increase and sustain positive emotion: the effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves. J Posit Psychol. 2006; 1(2):73–82. DOI: 10.1080/17439760500510676.
crossref
23. Happiness Research Center in Seoul National University. Happiness textbook. Seoul: Kimyoungsa;2013. p. 164.
24. Kim SI. Relationship among social support, vitality and happiness in elderly participating physical activity program. J Sport Leis Stud. 2012; 49(1):617–629.
crossref
25. Lee MY, Kim SI. Effect of therapeutic exercise program on vitality and optimism in elderly. J Sport Leis Stud. 2013; 51(1):465–476.
crossref
26. Oh HO. The relationship among self-regulation, vitality and optimism in elderly leisure sport participants. J Sport Leis Stud. 2011; 45(1):637–646.
crossref
27. Seligman MEP. Authentic happiness. New York: Free Press;2002. p. 177.
TOOLS
Similar articles