Autobiographical Narration as a Tool for the Empowerment of Older Adults' Subjective and Psychological Wellbeing in Nursing Homes. Issue 3 (27th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Biassoni, Federica; Cassina, Giada; Balzarotti, Stefania
• Is Part Of: Clinical gerontologist. Volume 42:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 334
• Page End: 343
• Publication Date: 2019-05-27
• Subjects: Autobiographical narration -- nursing home -- older adults -- psychological wellbeing -- subjective well-being; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Older people -- Mental health services -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2017.1381867
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0731-7115

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives : Conceiving narration as a resource to promote older people's wellbeing, the present work aimed to implement a narrative-based intervention to empower the subjective and psychological wellbeing of older adults living in nursing homes. Methods : Twenty-one nursing-home residents took part in a narrative training experience consisting of three weekly interview sessions. During each interview, a psychologist helped the participants to construct an autobiographical narrative about their present life in the nursing home based on a Deconstruction-Reconstruction technique. Subjective and psychological wellbeing variables were assessed before and after the intervention. Results : Subjective but not psychological wellbeing increased over the course of the intervention. The participants reported to appreciate the intervention. Conclusions : Although preliminary, the results suggest that brief narrative training based on narrative therapy can positively affect nursing-home residents' subjective wellbeing. Clinical Implications : Brief narrative interventions implementing deconstruction-reconstruction techniques are feasible for long-term care residents.