THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTENTIAL THERAPY ON INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY, ACCEPTING DEATH, AND FEELING EMPTY IN RECOVERED COVID-19 PATIENTS IN URMIA CITY

COVID-19 is an epidemiological crisis that as a psychological disturbance has caused damages, ranging from a sense of personal security to social relationships and financial security. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Existential Therapy on intolerance of uncertainty, accepting death, and feeling empty in recovered COVID-19 patients.

The research was a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test and control groups. The statistical population in this study included all recovered COVID-19 patients in 2020 in Urmia, Iran. A sample of 30 subjects was selected by convenience sampling method and placed in two groups (N = 15 each). The experimental group received ten sessions of online existential therapy whereas the control group received no intervention. For the collection of data, the intolerance of uncertainty scale (Freestone, 1994) and the life attitude questionnaire (Ray Kerr, 1992) were used. The collected data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance.

The mean scores of intolerance of uncertainty, accepting death, and feeling empty in the pre-intervention stage were 75.47±5.15, 3.27±2.12 and 18.93±3.90 in the control group, respectively, and 73.13±5.41, 3.13±1.68 and 18.73±2.31 in the experimental group, respectively. After the intervention, the mean scores of intolerance of uncertainty, accepting death, and feeling empty were 74.73±6.91, 4.47±2.36 and 18.07±3.94 in the control group, respectively, and 54.93±5.55, 9.47±2.36 and 10.82±2.93 in the experimental group, respectively. The mean of intolerance of uncertainty and feeling empty after the intervention of existential therapy compared to before the intervention in the experimental group in comparison with the control group has decreased significantly (p<0.01) and the mean of accepting death has increased (p <0.01).

Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that existential psychotherapy can reduce intolerance of uncertainty and feelings of emptiness and improve acceptance of death in recovered COVID-19 patients.