Evaluation of a Positive Psychology Program for the Promotion of Well-Being and Emotional Health in Rural Elderly People

Authors

  • Susana Pérez-Herrero Asociación Colectivo para el Desarrollo Rural de Tierra de Campos
  • Jesús González-Moreno Universidad Internacional de Valencia
  • Francisco Rivera Rufete Centro de Psicología y Neuropsicología La Garena
  • María Cantero García Universidad a Distancia de Madrid

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54790/rccs.65

Keywords:

emotional well-being, healthy aging, elderly people, intervention program, Positive psychology, perceived health

Abstract

Population aging is one of the challenges of modern societies. In particular, older people living in rural areas may face additional barriers to access mental health resources and services, which increases the risk of social isolation, depression, and other emotional health problems. The aim of the study is to evaluate an intervention for the improvement of well-being and emotional health in older people. A quasi-experimental investigation was conducted with pre-intervention and post-intervention measures. The sample consists of 24 people aged 65 to 85 years. The program consisted of a total of six sessions. The efficacy of the intervention program was evaluated. The results indicate that the experimental group significantly increased their scores with respect to baseline, and in relation to the control group. It could be suggested that the intervention program based on positive psychology promotes an increase in emotional well-being, which favors healthy aging.

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Author Biographies

Susana Pérez-Herrero, Asociación Colectivo para el Desarrollo Rural de Tierra de Campos

General Health Psychologist, she has worked in the Collective Association for Rural Development of Tierra de Campos since 2017, developing actions to promote the health and psychological, emotional, work and social well-being of different groups, older people, people at risk or in situations of social exclusion, in a situation of dependency, with functional diversity... Among other activities, he has developed and taught emotional management workshops and personal assistance courses, as well as individual psychotherapy. Her work perspective is based on Humanistic Psychology and Positive Psychology, and she is trained in EMDR Level II.

Jesús González-Moreno, Universidad Internacional de Valencia

Doctor in Psychogerontology, he holds the position of director of the Master in General Health Psychology at the International University of Valencia. His research work focuses on psychogerontology, ranging from psychological evaluation to treatment and intervention in older people. He has led various projects that have involved the creation and implementation of various intervention programs that seek to improve the quality of life of older people. He has a specialization in Social Intervention and research methodologies in the social and health sciences.

Francisco Rivera Rufete, Centro de Psicología y Neuropsicología La Garena

General health psychologist, director of the La Garena Psychology and Neuropsychology Center and expert in development management within organizations. Currently, his practice covers clinical and healthcare practice from the cognitive behavioral theoretical framework and third generation therapies, the supervision of general health psychologists and the development of people within organizations and companies, with research work in the field of psychology of the health and psychology of organizations. Additionally, he collaborates in the design and implementation of health programs in the field of immunology and rare diseases.

María Cantero García, Universidad a Distancia de Madrid

Doctor in Psychology, she holds the position of Contracted Doctor Professor in the Department of Psychology of the Distance University of Madrid (UDIMA). Her research scope encompasses health psychology, psychological assessment, treatment and intervention throughout the life cycle. She has developed and implemented various intervention programs aimed at strengthening resilience in cancer patients and people with chronic diseases (among others), applying third generation therapy approaches. She is specialized in Health Psychology and has extensive experience in the field of Psychogerontology.

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Published

2024-02-14

How to Cite

Pérez-Herrero, S. ., González-Moreno, J., Rivera Rufete, F., & Cantero García, M. (2024). Evaluation of a Positive Psychology Program for the Promotion of Well-Being and Emotional Health in Rural Elderly People. CENTRA Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.54790/rccs.65

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2024): CENTRA Journal of Social Sciences

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Artículos

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Copyright (c) 2024 Susana Pérez-Herrero, Jesús González-Moreno, Francisco Rivera Rufete, María Cantero García

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