Reducing Multidimensional Fatigue and Psychological Distress in Older Women Residing in Nursing Homes Through Verbal Emotional Self-disclosure: A Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Verbal emotional self-disclosure helps older adults express or discuss feelings openly. This therapeutic method can enhance individuals' psychological well-being. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of verbal emotional self-disclosure in reducing multidimensional fatigue and psychological distress among older women residing in nursing homes. Methods: This applied study utilized a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The research population consisted of 210 older adults (50 men and 160 women) residing in a nursing home in Qods Town, Tehran, in 2024. A sample of 30 older women was selected through convenience sampling. The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups based on the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) to measure psychological distress and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI). A structured group intervention program for verbal emotional self-disclosure was conducted for the participants in the intervention group over 12 sessions, each lasting 60 minutes. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum scores, and inferential statistics, including multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). SPSS-26 software was used for data processing. Results: The findings indicated that verbal emotional self-disclosure interventions significantly reduced psychological distress and physical fatigue in older women. According to Eta coefficients, the effect size of the intervention was 0.71, 0.81, 0.74, and 0.60 on anxiety, stress, depression, and physical fatigue, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings suggest that verbal self-expression can be used as a cost-effective and easy intervention by healthcare providers, including rehabilitation consultants, occupational therapists, nurses, and other medical staff at medical centers and rehabilitation clinics.