A program of positive intervention in the elderly: memories, gratitude and forgiveness.
OBJECTIVE
The main goal of this study has been to increase the quality of life in people of over 60 years through a positive psychology intervention.


METHODS
We employed a program which consists of training based on autobiographical memory, forgiveness and gratitude. The sample consisted of 46 participants aged 60-93 years. State and trait anxiety, depression, general memory, specific memories, life satisfaction and subjective happiness were measured.


RESULTS
The results revealed that participants who followed the program (experimental group) showed a significant decrease in state anxiety and depression as well as an increase in specific memories, life satisfaction and subjective happiness, compared with the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our program offers promising results and provides new evidence for the effectiveness of positive interventions in the field of psychogerontology, helping increase subjective well-being and quality of life in older adults by focusing interventions on the enhancement of personal and social resources for being happy.
a Department of Psychology , University of Jaén , Jaén , Spain.
Encarnación
E
Ramírez
Ana Raquel
AR
Ortega
Alberto
A
Chamorro
José María
JM
Colmenero
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D061347:Forgiveness / Q000502:physiology; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology