Development and Validation of a Training Package for Adapting to Empty Nest Syndrome and Its Effectiveness on Feelings of Defeat and Distress Tolerance among the Elderly

Abdolbaset  Mahmoudpour; Asieh  Shariatmadar; Saydeh Motahareh  Alavi

doi:10.18502/qjcr.v24i94.20081

Abdolbaset Mahmoudpour Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
Asieh Shariatmadar Ph.D. in Counseling, Assistant Professor, Counseling Dept., Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.
Saydeh Motahareh Alavi Master of Science in Positive Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, Mazandaran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/qjcr.v24i94.20081

Keywords: Feelings of defeat; Distress tolerance; Elderly; Adaptation; Empty nest syndrome

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an educational package for coping with empty nest syndrome and to examine its effectiveness on feelings of failure and distress tolerance among the elderly. Methods: The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, an empty nest counseling package was developed and validated through content validity assessment. In the second phase, a single-case experimental design (single-subject design) was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the package. The statistical population included elderly individuals experiencing empty nest syndrome in Tehran during 2022–2023. Using convenience sampling, three elderly women residing in nursing homes in the Shahr-Ara and Qolhak neighborhoods, who scored high on the Feelings of Failure Scale (Gilbert & Allen, 1998), were selected. Data were collected using the Distress Tolerance Scale (Simons & Gaher, 2005) and the Feelings of Failure Scale. The intervention consisted of nine 60-minute sessions, held weekly. Findings: Data were analyzed through graphical analysis, and the percentage of improvement formula was used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The results indicated that the adaptation training package for empty nest syndrome effectively reduced feelings of failure and increased distress tolerance among the elderly participants. Conclusion: As the adaptation training package was designed based on the lived experiences of elderly individuals with empty nest syndrome, it can help enhance their distress tolerance and reduce feelings of failure, thereby promoting greater psychological well-being.