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An Evaluation of an ACT-Based "Aging Resiliently" Group
Dana B Goetz1, Elizabeth W Hirschhorn1
1American Lake Division, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Tacoma, Washington, USA.
Clinical Gerontologist
|June 9, 2021
Summary
The "Aging Resiliently" group improved older veterans' depression and life satisfaction. This Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention showed promise as an effective psychotherapy for geriatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
- Quality Improvement in Healthcare
Background:
- Older adults, particularly veterans, face unique challenges related to aging.
- Primary care settings can be leveraged for mental health interventions.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a framework for psychological flexibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a six-week geriatric ACT group, "Aging Resiliently."
- To gather participant feedback for refining future group offerings.
- To assess outcomes in depression, experiential avoidance, and life satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Four cohorts of 17 veterans (age 58+) participated in the "Aging Resiliently" group.
- Paired samples t-tests analyzed pre- and post-intervention self-report measures.
- An open-ended questionnaire collected qualitative feedback from participants.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant improvements were observed in depressive symptoms and life satisfaction.
- Experiential avoidance levels did not show a significant change.
- Key themes from feedback included the value of self-reflection/values and group social processes.
Conclusions:
- The "Aging Resiliently" group demonstrated meaningful positive outcomes for older veterans.
- The intervention is a potentially effective, feasible, and acceptable psychotherapy in primary care.
- Findings support the adaptation of ACT for geriatric populations in community settings.
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