The Effect of Reminiscence Therapy on Stress, Anxiety and Depression Levels in The Elderly

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of reminiscence therapy on stress, anxiety, and depression levels in the elderly, focusing on its potential to enhance emotional well-being and psychological resilience.

Method: This research used a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pre-post design approach, involving 30 elderly respondents. Inclusion criteria were elderly individuals who could still interact and communicate. The instrument used was the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42) questionnaire, with analysis conducted using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test and Paired Sample T-test.

Results: The study was conducted on 30 elderly individuals at the Tresna Werdha Budi Pertiwi Social Home and the Titian Benteng Gading Elderly Foundation. The results showed that all the respondents were female (100%), and majority were widowed (80%). The most common reasons for entering the home are personal desire and family decision (40%). The most common health condition was hypertension (45%). Bivariate analysis showed the average stress level score from 18.03 decreased to 14.60, anxiety from 12.57 decreased to 8.53, and depression from 20.00 to 12.09, with a p-value of <0.05

Conclusion: Reminiscence therapy has a significant effect on the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in the elderly, promoting emotional well-being, enhancing self-esteem, and fostering a sense of social connectedness and purpose.