Background & Aims: The aging process is associated with physical, psychological, and social changes, causing the elderly to lose happiness. Since reduced happiness is a consequence of old age, the present study aimed to assess the effect of reminiscence on the happiness of the retired elderly. Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the winter of 2018 on 90 retired men aged more than 60 years, who were selected via convenience sampling and randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. Reminiscence was performed for six sessions twice per week on the intervention group at the Military Board of the Retired Members in Zahedan, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Oxford happiness questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean score of happiness in the elderly in the intervention group increased from 48.82±3.51 before the intervention to 56.51±6.14 after the intervention. In the control group, the score changed from 47.66±6.99 before the intervention to 49.68±7.96 after the intervention. Therefore, a significant difference was observed in the mean score of happiness after the intervention between the intervention and control groups (P=0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, group reminiscence could promote happiness in the elderly. Considering that reminiscence is an appealing, simple, and inexpensive intervention, it could be used to reduce anxiety in the elderly and foster a joyful atmosphere in geriatric healthcare centers.

Background: Death anxiety is one of the concerns of the elderly population in the late stages of life. In this context, recalling memories is one of the favorite characteristics of these people that can affect different aspects of their mental and social health. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of reminiscence therapy on the death anxiety of men retried from the Islamic Republic of Iran Army living in Zahedan. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed on 90 retired men over 60 years of age. The subjects were recruited through convenience sampling at the Army Retirement Center in Zahedan in winter 2019. The participants were randomly divided into the intervention (n = 45) and control (n = 45) groups. In the intervention group, reminiscence therapy was carried out based on major life events twice a week for six sessions. Data were gathered again two months after the intervention. The control group did not take part in any program. Data collection tools included a demographic form and the Death Anxiety scale (Templer, 1970). The results were analyzed by SPSS-21 using descriptive and inferential statistics. The P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The mean scores of death anxiety were 25.37 ± 1.89 and 25.17 ± 1.61 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. After the experiment, this score was 9.09 ± 1.79 in the intervention group and 25.04 ± 1.62 in the control group. Thus, while reminiscence therapy significantly relieved death anxiety in the intervention group (P < 0.0001), the control group showed no significant difference in this respect at the end of the study (P = 0.63). Conclusions: Group reminiscence therapy can reduce the death anxiety of older adults. Since the elderly are fond of expressing their memories, and such storytelling is an attractive, simple, and inexpensive intervention, it could be used to help these people mitigate their death anxiety.

Background & Aims Aging is associated with declined health. To maintain the health of the elderly, it is necessary to develop preventive health measures. Social well-being is an important dimension of health in the elderly. The present study aims to determine the effect of group reminiscence therapy on the social well-being of retired older men in Zahedan, Iran. Materials & Methods This is a quasi-experimental study that was conducted in 2018. Participants were 90 retired older men aged 60-75 years in Zahedan, Iran who were selected by a convenience method and were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Data collection tools were a demographic form and Keyes’ social well-being scale-short form. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS software, version 16. Results The Mean±SD age was 68.02±3.46 in the intervention group and 68.64±4.60 years in the control group. The results of independent t-test showed that the mean score of social well-being after reminiscence intervention was significantly different between the two groups (P=0.002). Conclusion Group reminiscence therapy has a positive effect on the social well-being of retired older men. Since the elderly are interested in sharing memories and considering that reminiscence therapy is an attractive, simple and cost-effective intervention, it can be used to improve their social well-being.