The Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Existentialism Therapy on Increasing Psychological Capital in the Elderly

Having psychological capital enables people to not only cope better with stressful situations, but also have less stress and have more ability to cope with problems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and existentialism therapy on increasing psychological capital in the elderly. The current research was a quasi-experimental with pre-experimental-post-experimental with control group design. The statistical population of the present study included all members of the Bojnourd retirement association in 2020, who were at least 60 years old. The sample of the study included 45 age individuals who selected through targeted sampling as well as inclusion criteria and assigned randomely into two experimental groups (15 people in each group) and one control group (15 people). The research tool was the Luthans’s psychological capital questionnaire. Acceptance and commitment therapy package was delivered in eight 90-minute sessions and existential therapy in ten 90-minute sessions for experimental groups. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc test using SPSS-22. The results indicated acceptance and commitment therapy and existential therapy were effective in increasing participants' psychological capital. Therefore, aforementioned therapies can be used to increase the psychological capital of the aged people. References Avey, J. B. Luthans, F., & Jensen, S. M. (2009). Psychological capital: A positive resource for combating employee stress and turnover. Human resource management, 48(5), 667-693. Avey, J. B., Reichard, R. J., Luthans, F., & Mhatre, K. H. (2011). Meta‐analysis of the impact of positive psychological capital on employee attitudes, behaviors, and performance. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 22(2), 127-152. Bach, P. A., & Moran, D. J. 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