Memorial University DAI: A large-scale longitudinal study of the therapeutic value of reminiscence intervention with elderly institutionalized adults

advanced search

Digital Archives Initiative
Memorial University - Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2

menu off

add document to favorites : add page to favorites : reference url

back to results : previous : next

Search this object:

0 hit(s) :: previous hit : next hit

View:

previous page : next page

Document Description

Title	A large-scale longitudinal study of the therapeutic value of reminiscence intervention with elderly institutionalized adults
Author	Rattenbury, Christine Ruth, 1960-
Description	Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1992. Psychology
Date	1991
Pagination	xiii, 190 leaves : ill.
Subject	Reminiscing--Therapeutic use; Older people--Psychology; Older people--Mental health
Degree	Ph.D.
Degree Grantor	Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept of Psychology
Discipline	Psychology
Language	Eng
Notes	Bibliography: leaves 142-152.
Abstract	Two experiments were conducted in order to ascertain the therapeutic value of reminiscence intervention for elderly adults. In Experiment 1, subjects were selected from five different nursing homes in St. John's, NFLD. The reminiscence group consisted of 75 subjects whereas 101 subjects formed the no-treatment control group. This study was divided into three phases which spanned approximately 18 months. Dependent measures included indices relevant to mental and physical well-being, and a loneliness scale for the institutionalized elderly (LSIE) that was developed and validated for use in this study. Reminiscence subjects obtained significantly more favorable levels of psychological well-being relative to the controls in each of the three phases of study. Also, across the first and second phases, reminiscence subjects reported significantly fewer limitations in their capacity for physical activity, and they were less likely to drop out of the study in the second phase because of illness. As the study progressed into the third phase, the physical health of all subjects deteriorated substantially. However, reminiscence subjects who participated in all phases reported a higher capacity for physical activity than those control subjects who participated in all phases. The use of reminiscence intervention in nursing homes was supported by these findings. -- In Experiment 2, reminiscence groups were conducted with cognitively impaired elderly subjects. Reminiscence participants were compared with a no-treatment control group on measures of happiness/depression, physical symptoms and mental status. Results supported the conclusion that psychological well-being cannot be assessed reliably in cognitively impaired adults using a self-report measure. No improvements were obtained in mental status. It was concluded that reminiscence group discussion should not be the intervention of choice if the goal of therapy is to promote cognitive functioning in demented adults.
Type	Text
Resource Type	Electronic thesis or dissertation
Format	Image/jpeg; Application/pdf
Source	Paper copy kept in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries
Local Identifier	76118642
Rights	The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission.
Collection	Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Scanning Status	Completed
PDF File	(13.87 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/theses/Rattenbury_ChristineRuth.pdf
CONTENTdm file name	263024.cpd