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Id | 927 | |
Author | Moore R.C., Straus E., Dev S.I., Parish S.M., Sueko S., Eyler L.T. | |
Title | Development and pilot randomized control trial of a drama program to enhance well-being among older adults | |
Reference | Moore R.C., Straus E., Dev S.I., Parish S.M., Sueko S., Eyler L.T.; Development and pilot randomized control trial of a drama program to enhance well-being among older adults ;Arts in Psychotherapy vol:52 issue: page:1 |
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Link to article | https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84991454110&doi=10.1016%2fj.aip.2016.09.007&partnerID=40&md5=4c00b7b89cdb20235f55ef3adfa1e771 |
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Abstract | Objective Develop a novel theatre-based program and test its feasibility, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy for improving empathy, compassion and well-being among older adults. Method Thirteen older adults were randomized to a 6-week Drama Workshop (DW) program or time-equivalent Backstage Pass (BP) control condition. Pre- and post-treatment measures included empathy, compassion, and mood scales. Additional post-treatment measures included self-rated change in empathy/compassion, confidence, and affect. Participants also rated their mood/affect after each session. Results The program was successfully completed and well-liked. No pre-to-post-treatment changes in empathy/compassion or mood symptoms were found in either group. Compared to BP, DW weekly ratings indicated higher levels of anxiety and lower happiness; however, the DW program had higher self-ratings of positive change in self-esteem, confidence, and happiness post-treatment. Discussion The DW was not shown to promote empathy/compassion. It was also reported as personally challenging. However, engagement in dramatic exercises and rehearsing and performing a dramatic piece was reported by participants as a positive growth experience, as indicated by the post-treatment ratings of enhanced self-esteem, confidence and happiness. Thus, such a program might be useful for counteracting some of the potential negative aspects of older age, including managing physical limitations and coping with losses. © 2016 |
Development and pilot randomized control trial of a drama program to enhance well-being among older adults. This study termed the Empatheatre Project examined the pre- liminary efcacy of a theatre-based program for altering levels of empathy compassion and well-being in an older adult community sample by exercising the neural systems that are used to put one- self in anothers shoes. Greater post-class anxiety in the Drama Workshop related to post-treatment increase in self-esteem. The nding that those participants who were least comfortable on a weekly basis were the same ones who said that they changed the most for the better in terms of self-esteem and condence is analogous to the known phenomenon in phys- ical exercise of needing to use a muscle past the point of comfort in order to gain strength. Funding This work was supported by the University of California San Diego Frontiers of Innovation Scholars Program application number #P; the National Institutes of Health and the Stein Institute for Research on Aging.