Interventions for Improving Coping Strategies in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Physiological, psychological, and social changes may make older adults more vulnerable to stressors and lead to adverse health outcomes. It remains unclear whether interventions targeting coping strategies in older adults are effective.

This study aimed to systematically review and summarize existing interventions aimed at improving coping strategies in older adults and analyze intervention effectiveness.

A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, SinoMed, VIP, and WanFang databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. Two researchers independently performed literature screening, quality assessment, and data extraction.

A total of 9 studies were included, comprising 7 RCTs and 2 quasi-experimental studies. Meta-analysis revealed that the interventions significantly enhanced the use of problem-focused coping strategies among older adults (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.12 ~ 0.63, p = 0.005, I² = 39%). However, there was no significant effect on emotion-focused coping strategies (SMD = -0.07, 95% CI [-0.62, 0.48], p = 0.80, I² = 76%). Moreover, no significant statistical differences were observed between the intervention group and the control group in terms of positive (SMD = 1.49, 95% CI [-0.23, 3.21], p = 0.09, I² = 98%) or negative coping strategies (SMD = -0.76, 95% CI [-1.79, 0.28], p = 0.15, I² = 96%).

Interventions targeting coping strategies can significantly improve the problem-focused coping strategies of older adults. It is crucial to help older adults accurately recognize daily stressors, acquire emotional regulation strategies, and enhance coping skills. More large-scale RCTs are needed to draw more robust conclusions.