TY - JOUR
T1 - Living legends
T2 - Effectiveness of a program to enhance sense of purpose and meaning in life among community-dwelling older adults
AU - Chippendale, Tracy
AU - Boltz, Marie
PY - 2015/7/1
Y1 - 2015/7/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE. We investigated the therapeutic benefits (i.e., sense of purpose and meaning in life) of the Living Legends program, which includes life review writing and an intergenerational exchange, compared with life review writing alone, for community-dwelling older adults. METHOD. This study was a randomized controlled trial with a connected qualitative component. We analyzed quantitative data using independent-samples t tests and written descriptions of program experiences using Collaizi's qualitative methodology; we then used a triangulation protocol to integrate the qualitative and quantitative data. RESULTS. For participants in the writing workshop plus intergenerational exchange, sense of purpose and meaning in life increased significantly (p < .0001) compared with those in the writing workshop alone. Qualitative themes revealed additional program benefits. CONCLUSION. Living Legends enhanced participants' sense of purpose and meaning in life, a factor known to prevent cognitive loss and disability, compared with life review writing alone.
AB - OBJECTIVE. We investigated the therapeutic benefits (i.e., sense of purpose and meaning in life) of the Living Legends program, which includes life review writing and an intergenerational exchange, compared with life review writing alone, for community-dwelling older adults. METHOD. This study was a randomized controlled trial with a connected qualitative component. We analyzed quantitative data using independent-samples t tests and written descriptions of program experiences using Collaizi's qualitative methodology; we then used a triangulation protocol to integrate the qualitative and quantitative data. RESULTS. For participants in the writing workshop plus intergenerational exchange, sense of purpose and meaning in life increased significantly (p < .0001) compared with those in the writing workshop alone. Qualitative themes revealed additional program benefits. CONCLUSION. Living Legends enhanced participants' sense of purpose and meaning in life, a factor known to prevent cognitive loss and disability, compared with life review writing alone.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937150762&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84937150762&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5014/ajot.2015.014894
DO - 10.5014/ajot.2015.014894
M3 - Article
C2 - 26114464
AN - SCOPUS:84937150762
SN - 0272-9490
VL - 69
JO - American Journal of Occupational Therapy
JF - American Journal of Occupational Therapy
IS - 4
M1 - 6904270010
ER -