title: Attachment-focused integrative reminiscence with older African Americans: a randomized controlled intervention study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prior integrative reminiscence interventions have had a limited focus on attachment themes. The attachment-focused integrative reminiscence (AFIR) intervention differs from these in its central emphasis on attachment themes. The wide range of health benefits resulting from integrative reminiscence may be due in part to reminiscing about, mourning, and integrating unresolved attachment experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomized into treatment and wait-list control conditions, completed a pre-test, met for eight consecutive weekly two-hour sessions of largely attachment-focused reminiscence, then completed post-tests immediately following the intervention and again six months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results show treatment effects for depression (p = .01 and .05 at eight weeks and six months), perceived stress (p = .01 and .04), and emergency room (ER) visits at six months (p = .04), with the intervention group showing lower depression and stress and fewer ER visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integrative reminiscence interventions are cost effective, have rapid impact, and carry a certain appeal to older adults. Augmenting such interventions with a focus on attachment experiences may reduce perceived stress, an important health risk factor. Wider application of AFIRs may further reduce health disparities among US older adults.
authors: a Department of Human Development , Binghamton University, University Downtown Center , Binghamton , NY , USA.
authors: Myra
authors: M
authors: Sabir
authors: b Department of Human Development , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA.
authors: Charles R
authors: CR
authors: Henderson
authors: c Department of Social Work , Binghamton University, University Downtown Center , Binghamton , NY , USA.
authors: Suk-Young
authors: SY
authors: Kang
authors: b Department of Human Development , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA.
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Pillemer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: African American older adults; attachment; depression; health disparities; integrative reminiscence; perceived stress