The Effectiveness of Spiritually Oriented Existential Therapy on Illness Perception and Personal Sense of Security in Women with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Definitive Singlehood
Keywords:
Spiritually oriented existential therapy, illness perception, personal sense of security, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, definitive singlehoodAbstract
Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of spiritually oriented existential therapy on illness perception and personal sense of security in women with PTSD and definitive singlehood.
Methods and Materials: The present study employed a semi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of women with PTSD and definitive singlehood who referred to the Amin Counseling and Psychological Center in Tehran during 2025. A total of 24 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participated in ten 90-minute sessions of spiritually oriented existential therapy, while the control group received no intervention. Following participant attrition, 10 participants remained in each group. Data were collected using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Personal Sense of Security Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), and univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
Findings: The findings demonstrated that spiritually oriented existential therapy had a statistically significant effect on illness perception and personal sense of security among women with PTSD and definitive singlehood. The results of covariance analysis indicated a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in illness perception scores (F = 12.306, P = 0.001, η² = 0.724). Additionally, a significant difference was observed between the groups in personal sense of security scores (F = 10.808, P = 0.001, η² = 0.569). The results of the Tukey post-hoc test further confirmed that the experimental group showed significantly improved illness perception and higher personal sense of security compared to the control group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that spiritually oriented existential therapy is an effective intervention for improving illness perception and enhancing personal sense of security in women with PTSD and definitive singlehood.
Downloads
References
Abud, T., Kounidas, G., Martin, K. R., Werth, M., Cooper, K., & Myint, P. K. (2022). Determinants of healthy ageing: a systematic review of contemporary literature. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 34, 1215-1223.
Ahmadi, A., Saberi, M., Pournaghsh, S., & Arjmandnia, A. A. (2020). The effect of family functioning on delinquency among adolescents in the Correction and Rehabilitation Center of Tehran. Knowledge and research in applied psychology, 21(4), 95-102.
Asadi Bijaeyeh, J., Amiri Majd, M., Ghamari, M., & Fathi Aghdam, G. (2021). The effectiveness of self-compassion training on life satisfaction and resilience of elderly women. Aging Psychology, 7(1), 55-67.
Fathi, E. (2020). The phenomenon of population aging in Iran. Iranian Journal of Official Statistics Studies, 30(2), 341-378.
Ferrucci, L., Gonzalez-Freire, M., Fabbri, E., Simonsick, E., Tanaka, T., Moore, Z., Salimi, S., Sierra, F., & de Cabo, R. (2020). Measuring biological aging in humans: A quest. Aging Cell, 19(2), e13080.
Firouzkoohi, A., Sharifi, M., Pourshahriar, H., & Shokri, A. (2019). Perceived social support and postpartum depression mediated by coping strategies. Social and Psychological Studies of Women, 17(3), 57-86.
Fleury, J., Sedikides, C., Wildschut, T., Coon, D. W., & Komnenich, P. (2022). Feeling safe and nostalgia in healthy aging. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 843051.
Frías-Luque, M. D., & Toledano-González, A. (2022). Determinants of quality of life and well-being in cognitively unimpaired older adults: a systematic review. Peerj, 10, e12900.
Gil-Lacruz, M., Saz-Gil, M. I., & Gil-Lacruz, A. I. (2019). Benefits of older volunteering on wellbeing: An international comparison. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 2647.
Haufe, M., Leget, C., Potma, M., & Teunissen, S. (2020). How can existential or spiritual strengths be fostered in palliative care? An interpretative synthesis of recent literature. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 2020(002379), 1-11.
Heo, J. M., & Kim, C. G. (2020). The mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between Type D personality and self-care behavior in patients with heart failure. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 17(4), e12359.
Jowell, A., Carstensen, L., & Barry, M. (2020). A life-course model for healthier ageing: lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Healthy Longevity, 1, 9-10.
Katani, A. M., Mohammadi, S., Davoodi, Z., & Shahmoradi, S. (2021). Comparing coping styles, personality traits, and resiliency in multiple sclerosis patients. Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, 23(2), 62-67.
Malekan, M., Saffarinia, M., Sabet, M., & Sedaghat, M. (2021). The role of diet in subjective well-being mediated by health hardiness in women with multiple sclerosis. Health Psychology, 10(1), 161-188.
Mashak, R., Naderi, F., & Chinaveh, M. (2021). Comparing the effectiveness of religion-oriented cognitive behavioral therapy and positive therapy on self-compassion and perception of suffering in infertile women. Psychiatric Nursing, 9(4), 37-48.
Mendoza-Catalán, G., Rodríguez-Santamaría, Y., Domínguez-Chávez, C. J., Juárez-Medina, L. L., Villa-Rueda, A. A., González-Ramírez, J., & Gutiérrez-Valverde, J. M. (2022). Personality traits and self-care behaviors in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, 15, 1-6.
Nasiłowska-Barud, A., Zapolski, T., Barud, M., & Wysokiński, A. (2021). An analysis of anxiety and selected aspects of personality in women with ischemic heart disease according to P. T. Costa and R. R. McCrae theory: The role of psychosocial factors in ischemic heart disease. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 28(1), 107-113.
Ory, M. G., & Smith, M. L. (2022). Editorial: Insights in aging and public health: 2021. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 929418.
Park, C., Won, M. H., & Son, Y. J. (2021). Mediating effects of social support between Type D personality and self-care behaviours among heart failure patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(3), 1315-1324.
Ratcliff, J. J., Miller, A. K., Monheim, C. L., & Rice, C. J. (2025). Posttraumatic Growth and Meaning in Life Mediate the Relationship Between Severity of Adolescent Bullying Victimization and Adulthood Health Outcomes. Journal of interpersonal violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605251343203
Refati, A., & Yousefi, A. (2019). Comparison of family functioning and quality of life in individuals with multiple sclerosis and healthy individuals. Journal of Modern Advances in Behavioral Sciences, 4(38), 83-100.
Sakaniwa, R., Noguchi, M., Imano, H., Shirai, K., Tamakoshi, A., & Iso, H. (2022). The JACC study group, impact of modifiable healthy lifestyle adoption on lifetime gain from middle to older age. Age and Ageing, 51(5), 1-8.
Sartipzadeh, A., Golparvar, M., & Aghaei, A. (2019). The effectiveness of spirituality-oriented existential therapy and Islamic spirituality therapy on affective capital in older women. Behavioral Sciences Research, 17(4), 684-694.
Talebi, G., Rezayi Jamaloui, H., Bagherian Sararodi, R., Oreyzi, H., & Bagherian-Sararoudi, P. (2024). Effectiveness of Meaning-Centered Group Therapy on Death Attitude and Distress Tolerance in Women with Breast Cancer with Death Anxiety. Health Psychology, 13(51), 83-98. https://doi.org/10.30473/hpj.2024.68761.5874
Tamanaeifar, M. R., Mansouri, N., & Ahmadpour Samani, S. (2023). The relationship between personality traits and quality of life in patients with heart failure: The mediating role of self-care behaviors. Health Psychology, 12(47), 33-46.
Tauil, C. B., Rocha-Lim, A. D., Ferrari, B. B., Silva, F. M., & Macha, L. A. (2021). Depression and anxiety disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis: association with neurodegeneration and neurofilaments. Brazilian Journal of Biology Research, 54(15).
Terao, T., & Satoh, M. (2022). The present state of existential interventions within palliative care. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 811612.
Türk, N., Yıldırım, M., Batmaz, H., Aziz, I. A., & Gómez‐Salgado, J. (2025). Resilience and Meaning-Centered Coping as Mediators in the Relationship Between Life Satisfaction and Posttraumatic Outcomes Among Earthquake Survivors in Turkey. Medicine, 104(10), e41712. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000041712
Valizadeh, H., & Parandin, S. (2022). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on irrational beliefs and happiness of the elderly. Aging Psychology, 8(1), 11-24.
Yao, Y., Wang, P., Zhao, K., Li, Q., & Li, Y. (2024). Proactive Personality, Social Support and Post-Traumatic Growth Caused by COVID-19: Mediating Effect Meaning in Life in China. BMC psychology, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02156-z
Zare, H., Malekzadeh, A., Aghayousefi, A. R., & Gholamali Lavasani, M. (2020). An explanatory model of social judgment: The role of theory of mind mediated by personality traits. Journal of Cognitive Sciences, 19(85), 121-128.
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Maryam Kianpour (Author); Mehryar Anasseri
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
