Investigating the effect of existential therapy on feelings of helplessness and failure, feelings of old age and emptiness, and feelings of confusion and conflict in retired teachers

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Islamic Azad University, Islamabad West Branch, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Background: Retirement can cause problems for individuals and lead to symptoms like retirement syndrome, including incompatibility and identity crises.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of existential therapy on retired teachers' feelings of helplessness and failure, aging and emptiness, and confusion and conflict.
Methods: This was a semi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design and a control group. The study included all retired teachers in Kermanshah, Iran, and 40 teachers were selected randomly and assigned to either the experimental or control group. Data were collected through the retirement syndrome questionnaire, and statistical analysis was conducted using multivariate covariance analysis.
Results: The study found that there were significant differences between the retirement syndrome symptoms in the existential therapy group and the control group, including feelings of helplessness and failure, aging and emptiness, and confusion and conflict. The participants in the experimental group showed a reduction in the mean score of retirement syndrome symptoms after the therapy sessions.
Conclusion: This study highlights the positive impact of existential therapy on reducing retirement syndrome symptoms for retired teachers. Training in existential therapy can help individuals prepare for retirement and cope with the challenges that come with it.

Keywords

References

  1. Hourzad A, Pouladi S, Ostovar A, Ravanipour M. The effects of an empowering self-management model on self-efficacy and sense of coherence among retired elderly with chronic diseases: A randomized controlled trial. Clin Interv Aging. 2018; 13:2215-24. doi:10.2147/CIA.S183276 PMid:30464430 PMCid:PMC6219101
  2. Sum S, Mahmoodi Y, Tirgar A. Retirement syndrome among Babol city retirees. Iranian Journal of Ageing. 2015; 10 (3):100-9.
  3. Kerry MJ. Psychological antecedents of retirement planning: A systematic review. Front Psychol. 2018; 9:1870. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01870 PMid:30356783 PMCid:PMC6189550
  4. Alavi Z, Alipour F, Rafiey H. Psychosocial issues of retirement in Iran: A qualitative study. Salmand: Iran J Ageing. 2021; 15(4):396-409. doi:10.32598/sija.15.4.2879.1
  5. Ryser VA, Wernli B. How does transitioning into retirement impact the individual emotional system? Evidence from the Swiss context. Adv Life Course Res. 2017; 32:42-54. doi:10.1016/j.alcr.2016.08.001
  6. Steffens NK, Cruwys T, Haslam C, Jetten J, Haslam SA. Social group memberships in retirement are associated with reduced risk of premature death: Evidence from a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open. 2016; 6(2):e010164. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010164 PMid:26883239 PMCid:PMC4762089
  7. De Vries MK. The retirement syndrome: The psychology of letting go. Eur Manag J. 2003; 21 (6): 707-16. doi:10.1016/j.emj.2003.09.009
  8. Salimi E, Dasht Bozorgi B, Mozafari M, Tabesh H. Investigating mental health status and life satisfaction of retired elderly referred to retirement's centers of the Jundishapur University of medical sciences and shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz. J Geriatr Nurs. 2014; 1(1):20-31
  9. Nobahar M, Ahmadi F, Alhani F, Fallahi-khosknab M. Coping to retirement: A review article. Iranian J Psychiatr Nurs. 2013; 1 (2):38-53
  10. Söderhamn O, Skisland A, Herrman M. Self-care and anticipated transition into retirement and later life in a Nordic welfare context. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2011; 4:273-9. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S21385 PMid:21847349 PMCid:PMC3155857
  11. Hemmati Maslak Pak M, Hashemlo L. Design and psychometric properties of a selfcare questionnaire for the elderly. Salmand: Iran J Ageing. 2015; 10 (3): 120-31
  12. Correia EA, Cooper M, Berdondini L, Correia K. Characteristic practices of existential psychotherapy: A worldwide survey of practitioners' perspectives. Humanist Psychol. 2017; 45(3): 217-37. doi:10.1037/hum0000061
  13. Prasko J, Mainerova B, Jelenova D, Kamaradova D, Sigmundova Z. Existential perspectives and cognitive behavioral therapy. Act Nerv Super Rediviva. 2012; 54(1): 3-14. doi:10.1016/S0924-9338(12)75673-0
  14. Amanzad A, Hoseinian S. The effect of group counselling base on existential approach on life attitude and spiritual well-being of patients with type 2 diabetes. J Woman Fam Stud. 2018; 6(1): 49-67
  15. Tajalifar M, Hayati M, Ghodrati mirkouhi M. The effectiveness of group logo therapy on self-belief and feelings of worthlessness in the elderly with type II diabetes. Aging Psychol. 2020; 6(4): 383-99
  16. Bahar A, Shahriary M, Fazlali M. Effectiveness of logotherapy on death anxiety, hope, depression, and proper use of glucose control drugs in diabetic patients with depression. Int J Prev Med. 2021; 12:6 doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_553_18 PMid:34084303 PMCid:PMC8106274
  17. Mardani Chamazkotih F, Ajam Zibad H, Sadeghmoghadam L. The effect of psychosocial self-care education on retirement syndrome in educators: a quasi-experimental study. Salmand: Iran J Ageing. 2022; 17 (1) :16-27. doi:10.32598/sija.2021.972.3
  18. Saffarinia M, Dortaj A. Effect of group logotherapy on life expectancy and mental and social wellbeing of the female elderly residents of nursing homes in Dubai. Salmand: Iran J Ageing. 2018; 12(4):482-93. doi:10.21859/sija.12.4.482
  19. Abdulkadir A, Rasaq AO, Gafar I. Psychological effects of retirement of retirees: Implications for counselling. Cypriot J Educ Sci. 2018; 13(1):15-22. doi:10.18844/cjes.v13i1.3365
  20. Ng SM, Leng L, Wang Q. Active interest mentorship for soon-to-retire people: A self-sustaining retirement preparation program. J Appl Gerontol. 2019; 38(3):344-64. doi:10.1177/0733464816687448 PMid:28380711
  21. Thyer BA, Wodarski JS. Handbook of empirical social work practice, volume 2: Social problems and practice issues. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons; 1998
  22. Nobahar M, Ahmadi F, Alhani F, Fallahi Khoshknab M. Designing an adaptation model for retired nurses. Iran J Nurs. 2012; 24(74):63-71
  23. Movahed M, Hosseini M. Exploring the Middle-aged women's strategies to deal with aging and age-related physical changes. J Women Soc Psychol Stud. 2017; 14:(4):7-42
  24. Oraki M, Mehdizadeh A, Dortaj A. The effectiveness of self-care empowerment training on life expectancy, happiness and quality of life of the elderly in Iranian elderly care centers in Dubai. Salmand: Iran J Ageing. 2019; 14(3):320-31
  25. Zarimoghadam Z, Davoudi H, Ghafari K, Jamilian H. The effectiveness of mental self-care training on mental health and social adjustment of students. Med J Mashhad Univ Med Sci. 2020; 62 (6):1888-97
Journal of Preventive and Complementary Medicine
Volume 2, Issue 1
February 2023
Pages 56-61

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 12 January 2023
  • Revise Date: 07 February 2023
  • Accept Date: 08 February 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics