[Psychic help for aged people of day-care-centers by attending person-centered encounter groups (author's transl)].

UNLABELLED

45 old people (Average age 72 years) took part in 9 person-centered encounter groups together with younger people (Average age 32 years). Psychological changes of the old people were collected by questionaires and compared to a control group of 38 old people who subsequently took part in 4 encounter groups without younger people. Excerpts from the encounter talks were rated in certain variables.

MAIN RESULTS

delta The old people of the mixed aged encounter groups showed constructive psychological changes after participation, for example reduced feelings of loneliness, reduced stress with emotional problems, and they see ageing less resignative. The mixed aged encounter groups were more helpful for the old people than the groups without younger people. The old people of the mixed group were more emotionally occupied by their own person, they showed more self-exploration and self-acceptance, they talked with more emotional engagement about their experiences and were more genuine; 3 months later their self-disclosure in an interview with a stranger was higher.