Effects of a Multi-Component Psychological Intervention to Cultivate Mental Health in Older Adults

INTRODUCTION: Psychological interventions to cultivate mental health in older adults are scarce and tend to focus on and use a limited number of activities. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the effects of an intervention based on Keyes’ concept of positive mental health. METHODS: The intervention was conducted with 24 self-selected participants, while 34 were part of the control group. Positive mental health and distress outcomes were measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention. ANCOVA analysis and effect sizes were calculated. RESULTS: Results showed that the intervention increased mental health (F= 18.22, p<0.001, η(2)= 0.334, d= 1.45, power 0.986) and decreased psychiatric symptomatology in the experimental group versus the control group (F= 7.07, p= 0.011, η(2)= 0.16, d= 0.87, power= 0.736), which showed no change. DISCUSSION: Despite study limitations, the intervention effectively promoted older people’s well-being. Future research, should evaluate the long-term effects of the intervention with varied older adult populations.