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Long-term effects of a control-relevant intervention with the institutionalized aged
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|December 1, 1977
Summary
Providing nursing home residents with more personal choice and responsibility improved their well-being. These positive effects on health and mortality indicators were sustained 18 months later.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Elderly individuals in nursing homes often experience reduced autonomy.
- Lack of personal control can negatively impact mental and physical health outcomes.
- Interventions promoting choice may mitigate these adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term impact of an intervention designed to increase personal choice and responsibility in nursing home residents.
- To evaluate sustained effects on resident well-being and health indicators.
Main Methods:
- An intervention was implemented to enhance feelings of choice and personal responsibility.
- Residents were reevaluated 18 months after the initial intervention.
- Nurses' ratings, health indicators, and mortality data were collected.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed sustained beneficial effects.
- Positive impacts were observed in nurses' ratings of resident well-being.
- Health and mortality indicators demonstrated long-term improvements.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing personal choice and responsibility in elderly nursing home residents yields lasting positive health outcomes.
- Interventions promoting autonomy are effective in improving the quality of life for institutionalized older adults.
- Sustained benefits suggest the importance of autonomy-supportive environments in geriatric care.