| 其他摘要 | China's population is aging rapidly, and mental health of the older adults has become a great challenge, especially in rural areas that lack psychological services. The increase of depressive symptoms and the decline of cognitive functions are two major mental health problems. Therefore, a low-cost, efficient, operable and teachable way of psychological intervention that is suitable to be used in rural China is needed. Adhering to the concept of "active health" and aiming to improve overall mental health level, the present study examines the feasibility and effects of a Solution-Focused Group Counseling (SFGC) on depressive emotions and cognitive functions among older adults in rural China. The present study aims to offer an evidence-based, localized, low-cost and inclusive intervention scheme for promoting mental health of older adults in rural China.
In a cluster randomized controlled trial, 290 participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=130) and a control group (n=160). The bi-weekly 90-minute SFGC group intervention consisted 12 sessions, lasted for 6 months and was carried out by trained local healthcare workers. Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used to measure depressive emotions and cognitive functions.
Results indicated that: (1) Compared with their counterparts in the control group, participants in the intervention group demonstrated positive changes in both depressive symptoms and cognitive functions after the SFGC intervention. In the posttest, CES-D scores decreased in the intervention group, indicating less depressive emotions, while the figure did not change significantly in the control group; MMSE scores did not change significantly in the intervention group, indicating maintained cognitive functions, while the figure decreased in the control group, indicating a decline in cognitive functions. (2) 6 months after the SFGC intervention, compared with their counterparts in the control group, the positive changes in depressive emotions and cognitive functions of participants in the intervention group maintained to a limited extent. In follow-up test, CES-D scores increased in the control group, indicating increased depressive emotions, while the figure did not change significantly in the intervention group; MMSE scores did not change significantly in the intervention group, indicating maintained cognitive functions, while the figure slightly decreased in the control group.
Findings support the feasibility of a localized SFGC among rural older adults in China. The present intervention can lead to significantly decreased depressive emotions and attenuated cognitive decline. Future studies can further improve the design of SFGC interventions, and explore the underlying mechanism of the SFGC in promoting mental health among older adults. |
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