اثربخشی درمان راه‌حل‌محور بر احساس تنهایی و رفتارهای خودمراقبتی سالمندان

لیلا رحیمی; امیر پناه علی; علیرضا اقدمی باهر; معصومه  آزموده

Authors

Leila Rahimi Department of Psychology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8538-7480
Amir Panahali Department of Psychology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8403-7841
Alireza Agdamibaher Department of Psychology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6026-1144
Masoumeh Azemoudeh Department of Psychology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1534-9814

Keywords:

Solution-focused therapy, feelings of loneliness, self-care behaviors, the elderly, Imam Khomeini (R, A, ) Relief Committee

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy in reducing loneliness and improving self-care behaviors among older beneficiaries of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in Tabriz.

Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all older beneficiaries covered by the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in Tabriz during 2024–2025. Sixty eligible participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group, with 30 participants in each group. The experimental group received eight weekly two-hour group sessions of solution-focused therapy, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults developed by DiTommaso et al. and the Standardized Elderly Self-Care Questionnaire developed by Younesi Boroujeni et al. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS version 21.

Findings: After controlling for pretest scores, solution-focused therapy produced a significant multivariate effect on the dimensions of loneliness (F=17.23, p<0.001, ηp²=0.590). Significant intervention effects were observed for social loneliness (F=44.37, p<0.001, ηp²=0.539) and family loneliness (F=7.26, p=0.010, ηp²=0.161), whereas the effect on emotional loneliness was not statistically significant (F=3.91, p=0.055). A significant multivariate effect was also found for self-care behaviors (F=14.162, p<0.001, ηp²=0.618). Solution-focused therapy significantly improved spiritual self-care (F=11.97, p=0.001), social self-care (F=25.15, p<0.001), physical self-care (F=12.99, p=0.001), and self-care during illness (F=20.16, p<0.001).

Conclusion: By emphasizing personal strengths, available resources, positive exceptions, and attainable goals, solution-focused therapy can reduce the social and family dimensions of loneliness and improve all dimensions of self-care among older adults. Its application as a brief and practical intervention in counseling, healthcare, and social support centers for older adults is therefore recommended.

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