The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Corona Anxiety and Quality of Life in Older People

Aging is an inevitable period and the quality of life in older people has been a noteworthy issue for human societies. On the other hand, Coronavirus anxiety is one of the most important phenomena affecting the lives of older people during the Coronavirus outbreak. Therefore, the present study determined the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on anxiety and quality of life in older people.

The statistical population of the present study included older people of the 3rd district of Tehran City, Iran, in the spring of 2022. The research method was quasi-experimental, which was carried out with a pre-test post-test, and one-month follow-up plan with the experimental and control groups. A total of 40 older people were selected by convenience sampling method. The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions for two months and cognitive-behavioral training techniques were presented to them, and the control group did not receive any intervention. Older people responded to the Coronavirus anxiety scale and the quality-of-life questionnaire in three stages.

The results of the analysis of variance test with repeated measurements showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy affects the anxiety of corona and the quality of life in older people (P<0.05), and this effect remained stable in the follow-up phase. 

According to the findings of the research, cognitive-behavioral therapy can be used to reduce the anxiety of Corona and increase the quality of life in older people. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a pragmatic approach that empowers people to manage their problems more effectively through psychological treatment. This is accomplished by the emotional development of older people and making them more open to options and possibilities. It is also suggested that future research investigate the preventive and effective impacts of this treatment on the health of older people. Long-term follow-up evaluations of cognitive-behavioral therapy can help in understanding the long-term effects of this treatment on the quality of life and Corona anxiety.