The Effects of Reminiscence Group Therapy on Self-esteem, Depression, Loneliness and Life Satisfaction of Elderly People Living Alone

Purpose. To explore the effects of reminiscence group therapy (RGT) on raising self-esteem, lowering depression, reducing loneliness, and improving life satisfaction among elderly people living alone. Methods. This study used a pre-post test, controlled quasi-experimental design. After convenient sampling, subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group included 12 elderly people living alone who voluntarily participated in RGT and who completed ten RGT sessions. The control group included 14 elderly people living alone who participated in regular group activities for ten weeks. The effectiveness of RGT was evaluated by non-parametric data analysis. Results. RGT significantly raised self-esteem, lessened loneliness and improved life satisfaction among elderly individuals living alone. The reduction in depression levels did not reach statistical significance; however, the level of depression among those in the RGT group did improve when compared with the subjects in the control group. Conclusion. Through the process of retelling and sharing life experiences, the elderly living alone began to realize that they are not alone. Furthermore, RGT gives elderly people a chance to provide support to others. RGT is an effective alterative intervention with minimal harmful side effects for improving mental health and adaptability of elderly living alone. Further research in the application of RGT in elderly living alone using rigorous research designs is needed.