EFFECTS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL AND PSYCHOTHERAPE UTIC INTERVENTIONS ON WELL-BEING AND SELF-CONCEPT IN LATE ADULTHOOD - META-ANALYTICAL OUTCOMES

Effects of 94 different psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventio ns on well-being in the elderly were meta-analyzed. Psychological well -being was improved and self-rated depression decreased for about half a standard deviation. The mean effect size for other-rated depression reached d=1.15. Whereas age of participants did not correlate with ch ange in self-rated well-being or depression, other-rated depression im proved less in older samples. High effect sizes derived from control-e nhancing interventions and behavior therapy. Sub-analyses showed that individual setting produced higher improvement than group setting. Hig her ''therapeutic'' qualifications and interventions in nursing homes were associated with higher effect-sizes too. Implications for plannin g interventions in old age are discussed.