Comparing the effectiveness of teaching positive psychology strategies and yoga techniques on death anxiety in elderly women

One of the common psychological problems of old age is death anxiety, because this period is full of all kinds of feelings of deficiency and incapacity. This research was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of teaching positive psychology strategies and yoga techniques on death anxiety in elderly women of Shahrbabak city.

The research method was semi-experimental and pre-test, post-test with a control group. The statistical population included all the elderly women of Shahrbabak city in 1402, 45 elderly women (15 people from the first experimental group, 15 people from the second experimental group, and 15 people from the control group) were selected by available sampling method. The data collection tool was Templer's Death Anxiety Questionnaire (1970). The intervention of positive psychology strategies was performed on the first experimental group, the intervention of yoga therapy techniques was performed on the second experimental group, and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data analysis was done with descriptive tests (mean and standard deviation), variance analysis test with repeated measurements and post hoc test using SPSS version 25 software. P level less than 0.05 was considered significant.

The results of analysis of variance showed that yoga therapy techniques and positive psychology strategies had an effect on the death anxiety of elderly women (P<0.01). The results of the follow-up test showed that teaching positive psychology strategies had a greater effect on the variable of death anxiety, and then teaching yoga techniques had an effect on the dependent variable.

Based on the research findings, the positive treatment approach not only reduces negative mood symptoms caused by death anxiety, but also directly increases positive emotions and capabilities in life.