title: Lighten UP! A community-based group intervention to promote psychological well-being in older adults.
abstract: Aging is often characterized by declines in physical and mental health and increased risk for depression and social isolation. A protective factor that has been found to effectively moderate these phenomena is psychological well-being. The aim of his study was to pilot test a novel group intervention (Lighten UP! program) for the promotion of psychological well-being in older adults living in the community.
  
  
  
  Lighten UP! is an eight-week program consisting of 90-minute group session designed to teach participants to identify and savor positive experiences across multiple domains of eudaimonic well-being. It was delivered to a sample of 103 men and women aged 60 or over, that were assessed pre- and post-intervention with Ryff's Psychological Well-being Scale (PWB), Life Satisfaction scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Symptom Questionnaire, and items measuring sleep complaints and social well-being.
  
  
  
  At the end of the eight weeks, participants reported significantly increased PWB, life satisfaction, and social well-being along with lower levels of depression and fewer physical symptoms and sleep complaints. These gains were particularly robust for individuals with lower pre-program levels of PWB.
  
  
  
  This pilot investigation suggests the feasibility of a short group program for enhancing well-being in older adults. Future controlled investigations with long-term follow-up assessment are needed to confirm the effectiveness and sustained benefits of the Lighten UP!
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Development and Family Studies , Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN , USA.
authors.forename: Elliot M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruini
authors.affiliation: c Aging and Disability Resource Center of Kenosha County , WI , USA.
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foy
authors.affiliation: c Aging and Disability Resource Center of Kenosha County , WI , USA.
authors.forename: LaVerne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaros
authors.affiliation: c Aging and Disability Resource Center of Kenosha County , WI , USA.
authors.forename: Hellen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.affiliation: d Institute on Aging and Department of Psychology , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.
authors.forename: Carol D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ryff
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report
keywords: depression; group intervention; positive aging; positive psychotherapy; psychological well-being