Life review based on remembering specific positive events in active aging.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Active aging programs aim to enhance well-being in older adults.
• Life review (LR) is a therapeutic technique that can address psychological needs.
• Focusing LR on positive events may enhance its efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of LR based on positive events.
• To assess LR's impact on non-depressed older adults in active aging programs.
• To determine if LR enhances emotional well-being and reduces depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-five older adults were randomized into an LR group or an active control (AC) group.
• The LR group received six sessions of LR focused on positive events.
• The AC group participated in a six-session media workshop.
• Life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, environmental reward, and autobiographical memory (AM) were measured pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The LR intervention led to a decrease in depressive symptomatology.
• Life satisfaction significantly improved in the LR group.
• The intervention also resulted in an increase in specific autobiographical memories.

Conclusions:

• LR practice focused on specific positive events is effective.
• This approach can be a valuable tool for enhancing emotional well-being within active aging programs.
• LR intervention shows potential for reducing depressive symptoms in older adults.