Reminiscence Functions Research Articles

Metaverse Life Story Museum and Reminiscence Group Therapy for Older Adults in Hong Kong

Purpose: The research project is to investigate how effective metaverse life story museum reminiscence therapy is in improving the psychological well-being of older adults, promoting positive aging, and enhancing reminiscence functions. Method: A quasi-experimental design with three metaverse reminiscence group therapy sessions were conducted with 15 older adults. Standardized measurements were taken before and after the therapy sessions. Qualitative methods were also employed to collect feedback. Results: The results indicated an increase in reminiscence functions and improvement in gerotranscendence based on the quantitative data. The qualitative findings revealed that the metaverse museum was a valuable tool for stimulating memory and helping older adults remember important life episodes. Discussion: The findings contribute to a better understanding of the utilization of metaverse in social work practice. Social workers are encouraged to introduce metaverse technology to older adults and provide them with training on how to use it safely and securely.

The Validity and Reliability Study of The Caregiver-Child Reminiscence Scale: Reminiscence Functions of Turkish Parents

Objectives: Parents talk to their children about memories of shared/unshared past, and these conversations are referred to as parental reminiscing. Parental reminiscing contributes significantly to varied developmental areas such as autobiographical memory, language, social, and sense of self. There are a limited number of measuring tools to determine reminiscence functions, that is, what purposes parents talk to their children about the past. The main purpose of this study is to adapt the Caregiver-Child Reminiscence Scale (CRS), which allows the scrutinization of the functions of parental reminiscing, to Turkish language and culture and, thus, to contribute to studies investigating cultural differences. Materials and Methods: The sample included 507 parents with children aged 2-6 years. The Caregiver-Child Reminiscence Scale is a 7-point Likert-type forty-item scale. It has seven sub-scales as Conversations, Relationship Maintenance, Behavioral Control, Teaching/Problem Solving, Emotion Regulation, Self-Functions, and Cognitive Skills. Results: The Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients range between .88-.99. for the sub-scales in this study. The descriptive analyses suggested that the parents aged 29 years and under did reminiscing to provide more behavioral control than those aged between 30-39 years. The participating mothers were reminiscing for maintaining the relationship, teaching/problem solving, emotion-regulation, and self-functions. Parents with high-school or less education were reminiscing more to achieve behavioral control than parents with undergraduate or postgraduate education. Conclusion: The CRS was found to be a valid and reliable for the Turkish culture. It is believed that it will allow intercultural studies in this field.

The mediating role of religion and loneliness on the association between reminiscence functions and depression: a call to advance older adults' mental health.

Current literature lacks evidence about the relationship between reminiscence functions and depression and the mediating role of clinical constructs such as loneliness and religion. The study aimed to examine the mediating effects of loneliness and religion on the association between reminiscence functions and depression in a sample of older Jordanian adults. An anonymous online cross-sectional survey was employed to collect data from 365 older Jordanian adults. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit participants through social media. In the depression model, Bitterness Revival and Intimacy Maintenance factors, educational level, and Intrinsic Religiosity were statistically significant predictors of depression. Bitterness Revival and Intimacy Maintenance factors, work sector, and Intrinsic Religiosity were statistically significant predictors of loneliness. Loneliness has a negative, partial mediating effect on Intimacy Maintenance and depression. Depression caused by significant losses in the Arab Jordanian environment might be mitigated by Intimacy Maintenance by reducing feelings of loneliness. Understanding how Intimacy Maintenance correlates with depression through loneliness could help psychiatric nurses develop psychosocial interventions that reduce depression among older adults.

Transcultural adaptation in translating measurement instruments: Challenges and learned lessons.

In cross-cultural research, there is a need for standard rules for translating research measurement instruments. This article describes theReminiscence Functions Scale(RFS) translation process from English into Arabic and the rigorous process followed in translating the scale. The process described can serve as a blueprint for translating research instruments for cross-cultural studies and clinical practice. Six integrated steps were used to establish content and semantic equivalences. Six bilingual professional translators participated in the translation project and utilized the Flaherty 3-point scale to assess and rate the translated RFS. The difficulties encountered during the study were finding nuanced translation equivalences for Likert scale responses, the translation of phrases and idioms, and logistical issues. Combining translation methods is the ideal choice to achieve robust translation. The proposed translation method for research instruments would assist nurses in appraising prior research's findings, delineating potential effective nursing interventions, and facilitating comparisons of individuals from various cultures and contexts.

Resting-state functional connectivity of the cerebellum-cerebrum in older women with depressive symptoms

BackgroundAlthough there has been much neurobiological research on major depressive disorder, research on the neurological function of depressive symptoms (DS) or subclinical depression is still scarce, especially in older women with DS.ObjectivesResting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was used to compare functional connectivity (FC) between the cerebellum and cerebral in older women with DS and normal controls (NC), to explore unique changes in cerebellar FC in older women with DS.MethodsIn all, 16 older women with DS and 17 NC were recruited. All subjects completed rs-fMRI. The 26 sub-regions of the cerebellum divided by the AAL3 map were used as regions of interest (ROI) to analyze the difference in FC strength of cerebellar seeds from other cerebral regions between the two groups. Finally, partial correlation analysis between abnormal FC strength and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score and Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS) score in the DS group.ResultsCompared with NC group, the DS group showed significantly reduced FC between Crus I, II and the left frontoparietal region, and reduced FC between Crus I and the left temporal gyrus. Reduced FC between right insula (INS), right rolandic operculum (ROL), right precentral gyrus (PreCG) and the Lobule IX, X. Moreover, the negative FC between Crus I, II, Lobule IX and visual regions was reduced in the DS group. The DS group correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the left Crus I and the right cuneus (CUN) FC and GDS. In addition, the abnormal FC strength correlated with the scores in different dimensions of the RFS, such as the negative FC between the Crus I and the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) was positively associated with intimacy maintenance, and so on.ConclusionOlder women with DS have anomalous FC between the cerebellum and several regions of the cerebrum, which may be related to the neuropathophysiological mechanism of DS in the DS group.

Reminiscing and intergenerational advice giving during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives Given that types of reminiscing consistently predict psychological well-being, the current study investigated how older adults’ reminiscing related to their appraisal of the COVID-19 pandemic and to the advice letters they wrote for younger adults. Methods The sample of 107 community-dwelling older adults (M age = 74.55, SD age = 5.89) completed self-report questionnaires to report (a) level of life-disruption experienced due to the pandemic, (b) type and frequency of reminiscing during the pandemic, and (c) current positive and negative appraisals of the pandemic. Forty participants also produced essays providing advice to younger people about how to overcome a life challenge such as the pandemic. Results Correlational analyses revealed that positive reminiscence functions positively correlated with both positive (mean r(105) = .42, p < .006) and negative pandemic appraisals (mean r(105) = .44, p < .006), whereas negative reminiscence functions correlated with negative pandemic appraisals (mean r(105) = .31, p < .006) but not with positive pandemic appraisals (mean r(105) = .15, p > .006). Individuals who reminisced more tended to produce advice that was more positively (r(38) =.36, p = .02) and negatively (r(38) = .34, p = .03) valanced; and those who reminisced more with the function of identity development also gave advice that focused on this issue (r(38) = .44, p = .004). Conclusion Overall, these results suggest that positive reminiscing is linked to older adults’ capacity to view both positive and negative facets of challenging life situations

Self-Transcendence as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Reminiscence Functions and Death Anxiety: Implications for Psychiatric Nurses.

Jordan's population of older adults is growing due to improved health care and lifestyle, but the country has limited mental health care resources, causing challenges for the health care system. Reminiscence is a point of nursing intervention and a way for psychiatric nurses to help people improve their mental health by expanding their personal boundaries (self-transcendence). The study aimed to examine the mediating effects of self-transcendence on the relationship between reminiscence functions and death anxiety in a sample of Jordanian older adults. Psychiatric nurses can refine reminiscence therapy by targeting aspects of self-transcendence to reduce death anxiety. An online cross-sectional survey was employed to collect the data. A total of 319 older adults participated in the study. The sample was recruited using convenience and snowball sampling strategies through social media and personal contacts. The reminiscence function of "Bitterness Revival," gender, the presence of a life-threatening disease, a history of psychiatric disorder, and the work sector were statistically significant predictors of death anxiety. This model accounts for 24% of the death anxiety score (F = 7.789, p < .001). Reminiscence functions 1, 2, and 5 predicted self-transcendence. This model explained 25% of the variance in the self-transcendence score (F = 6.548, p < .001). Self-transcendence exerts a positive, partial mediating effect between "Bitterness Revival" and death anxiety, controlling for other covariates in the death anxiety model (p = .016). The study is informative for understanding the role of self-transcendence in buffering death anxiety, notwithstanding "Bitterness Revival" reminiscences. This knowledge reveals practical implications for psychiatric nurses about the importance of developing reminiscence interventions to promote self-transcendence and ease death anxiety.

Ruminative reminiscence predicts COVID-related stress symptoms while reflective reminiscence and social reminiscence predict post-COVID growth.

Reminiscence refers to the process or act of thinking or telling about past experiences. Few studies address the relationship between reminiscence functions and trauma-related cognitions and emotions. This study aimed to expand the previous literature by investigating the frequency of different types of reminiscence during the COVID-19 pandemic and their relations to the likelihood of developing post-traumatic growth (PTG) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), using an adult sample. Altogether, 184 participants (Mage = 30.38; SD = 10.95) completed the Reminiscence Functions Scale to report the purposes for which they shared their experiences during the first two waves of COVID-19. They also responded to the COVID-Transitional Impact Scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory, Revised Form of The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, when considering the first two waves of COVID-19. The results demonstrated that pro-social reminiscence and self-positive reminiscence were significantly more common than self-negative reminiscence. Yet, these differences disappeared when the presence of COVID virus was controlled. Pro-social and self-positive reminiscence significantly predicted PTG beyond demographic characteristics, COVID-19 impact, social support, and resilience. In contrast, only self-negative reminiscence predicted PTSD beyond COVID-19 impact and demographic characteristics. Furthermore, serial mediation analysis indicated that pro-social reminiscence predicted PTG via its association with perceived social support and resilience. Our findings suggest the benefit of using reminiscence therapy-type interventions to facilitate PTG and reduce PTSD after large-scale disasters like pandemics.

Reminiscence functions and their relation to posttraumatic cognitions and well-being in young adults with chronic diseases.

Reminiscence functions and their relation to posttraumatic cognitions and well-being in young adults with chronic diseases.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Arabic version of the reminiscence functions scale with strict measurement invariance across gender.

Recognizing reminiscence functions can help psychiatric nurses promote patients' mental health. This study aimed to confirm the six-factor, 39-item structure of the Arabic version of the Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS) in a sample of Jordanian adults (N = 470) and examine the invariance of structure across gender. Post hoc model adjustment was conducted sequentially using modification indices (MI) to improve model fit. Measurement invariance across gender was examined using this adjusted Arabic RFS score (ARFS). After post hoc adjustment using MI, the fit indices for the adjusted (32-item) ARFS improved, indicating a good fit for the data. The adjusted ARFS factor structure indicated strict measurement invariance across gender. CFA supports a 32-item, six-factor model. Psychiatric nurses can use the adjusted ARFS to measure subjects' reminiscence functions and predict the psychological and emotional distress associated with these functions.

Previous work and meaning in life post-retirement: a reminiscence perspective

Objectives To understand how different reminiscence functions and previously meaningful work predicted meaning in life in retired adults. Method We surveyed 240 retired adults recruited from ResearchMatch and had them complete questionnaires assessing their reminiscence functions, their meaning in life, and whether they perceived their previous work as meaningful. We tested a structural model that positioned meaningful work as a mediator of the relation between reminiscence functions and meaning in life and an alternative model that positioned reminiscence functions as mediators of the relation between meaningful work and meaning in life. Results After comparing fit, we retained the structural model. Findings indicated that participants who reminisced for the sake of consolidating their identities (identity) reported their previous work as more meaningful, but those that reminisced for the sake of maintaining negative emotions (bitterness revival) reported their previous work as less meaningful. In turn, participants who perceived their previous work as more meaningful reported greater meaning in life. Identity and bitterness revival reminiscence also related to meaning in life via meaningful work. Conclusion Results suggest that retired adults’ reminiscence functions and their perceptions of their previous employment are important to understanding retired adults’ ongoing construction of meaning in their lives.

Adaptive and harmful autobiographical remembering after the loss of a loved one

Objectives: Remembering one’s personal past serves psychosocial functions. Adaptive use of autobiographical memory is related to well-being but little research has focused on grief. We address this in two studies theoretically grounded in the model of reminiscence and health. Method: Participants were adults who were actively grieving, and in both studies, completed the Reminiscence Functions Scale and grief-related measures (i.e. feelings of grief, positive changes in life perspective). Study 1 focused on uses for generally recalling one’s past and Study 2 on uses of memories of the deceased. Results: Across studies, self-negative ways of remembering were associated with stronger feelings of grief and also mediated relations between social ways of remembering and grief. Self-positive ways of remembering the deceased (Study 2) were associated with having experienced positive changes in life perspective since the loss. Conclusion: The discussion focuses on how memories of one’s personal past are linked to the experience of loss, even years into bereavement.

Uses of reminiscence intervention to address the behavioral and psychosocial problems associated with dementia: An integrative review

IntroductionReminiscence is a non-pharmacological technique used to manage the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. This integrative review aims to synthesize the research on the health benefits of reminiscence intervention for people with dementia. MethodsWhittemore and Knafl's five-step method provided the framework for this review. A comprehensive search of PubMed, CINAHL Plus, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO was conducted. The articles were reviewed for eligibility, critically appraised, and extracted the data. ResultsTwenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Four themes emerged: (a) Recovery from the Darkness of Depressive Symptoms, (B) Enhancement of Cognitive Functions and Filling the Memory Gap, (C) Living a Fulfilling Life in Late Adulthood, and (D) Fulfilling Reminiscence Functions. DiscussionThis review provides a better understanding of the potential benefits of using reminiscence intervention for addressing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. However, improving the methodological rigor of future studies is necessary to attain conclusive evidence.

Psychometric Testing of the Arabic Version of the Reminiscence Functions Scale.

Background and Purpose: The Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS), a reliable and valid 43-item scale, measures eight specific reasons as to why people reminisce. The current literature lacks an Arabic version of empirically-validated tools that measure reminiscence functions. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the translated version of the RFS in a sample of Arabic speakers from Jordan. Methods: The scale was first translated into Arabic and then was translated back into English. A committee of experts reviewed the Arabic scale and then confirmed its content validity. A convenience, snowball sample of 422 subjects completed the Arabic RFS. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the internal consistency method were used to evaluate the factorial structure and reliability of the Arab RFS, respectively. Results: The Arabic RFS reported excellent content validity. EFA yielded a six-factor, 39-item structure that accounted for 52% of the variance. Cronbach's alphas for the six factors ranged from 0.82 to 0.91, indicating good to excellent internal consistency. Conclusions: The Arabic RFS is a valid and reliable measure of reminiscence functions for Jordanian adults.

The Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of an Arabic Version of the Reminiscence Functions Scale

The Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS), a 43 item reliable and valid scale, measures eight specific reasons as to why individuals reminisce: (a) identity (b) death preparation; (c) problem-solving; (d) bitterness revival; (e) boredom reduction; (f) intimacy maintenance; (g) conversation; and (h) teach/Inform others. Research indicates that certain reminiscence functions have a positive impact on the mental-health and well-being of older adults. However, no known studies have been conducted in Arab countries examining the relationship between reminiscence functions and mental health outcomes due to the lack of an Arabic version of the RFS. The purpose of this study was to translate the RFS from English to Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic), back-translate from Arabic to English, and compare the two English versions for equivalence and accuracy through a multi-step translation method. A team of bilingual, bicultural, Arabic speaking experts assembled to conduct the forward, back translation and harmonization process. In the next step, professionals with expertise in linguistics communication sciences and disorders, Arabic literature, geriatric nursing, and medicine reviewed the translated documents to assess the content (relevant to the target culture) and semantic equivalencies (similarity of meaning in the target culture). Challenges that occurred during the study included finding nuanced translation equivalences for Likert scale responses, translation of idioms such as “when time is heavy on my hands”, and logistical issues such as coordinating virtual meetings for the team of experts. Lessons learned during the translation process and implications for use of the RFS-Arabic version with Jordanian older adults will be presented.

Maladaptive Use of Autobiographical Memory by Bereaved Individuals Across Adulthood

Remembering one’s personal past can serve adaptive psychosocial functions (Bluck, Alea, & Demiray, 2010). Autobiographical remembering has been related to well-being in older age but little research has focused on grief. We address this issue in two studies grounded in the model of reminiscence and health in older adulthood (Cappeliez & O’Rourke, 2006). Participants (aged 18 - 91) completed the Reminiscence Functions Scale and the Inventory of Complicated Grief. Regression analyses show that negative self-related use of memories, but not positive use, is associated with experiencing more grief. Sharing memories with others (pro-social function) is indirectly linked to grief, as mediated by negative self-related uses. These patterns held for autobiographical recall in general (Study 1; N = 51) and when specifically remembering the deceased person (Study 2; N = 49). How adaptively individuals remember their personal past appears linked to the experience of grief, sometimes even years after the loss.

Uses of Reminiscence in Dementia Care

Improving the quality of life for older adults diagnosed with dementia is a public health research priority. Reminiscence is one non-pharmacological technique used to address the behavioral and psychosocial problems associated with dementia. The uses of reminiscence in dementia care have not yet been integrated, synthesized, critically analyzed, or delineated in the literature. Whittemore and Knafl’s five-step method provided the framework for this integrative review. A comprehensive search of PubMed, CINAHL Plus, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO was undertaken. Articles published in English, focused on participants with a diagnosis of mild to moderate dementia, and with evidence of using reminiscence in dementia care were included. Twenty-six studies published between 2009 and 2019 that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Four themes emerged from the integrated findings: (a) recovery from the darkness of depressive symptoms; (b) enhancement of cognitive functions and filling the memory gap; (c) living a fulfilling life in late adulthood, and (d) fulfilling reminiscence functions. The critical appraisal process revealed mixed effectiveness of the use reminiscence on health outcomes in dementia care due to diverse types of reminiscence, different outcomes measures, different data collection toolkits, and a lack of a standardized reminiscence protocol among research studies. Results from this review provide a better understanding of the potential benefits of using reminiscence in dementia care. However, improving the methodological rigor of future studies is necessary to attain conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of using reminiscence in dementia care. Implications of these findings for gerontological education, practice, and research will be presented.

Equine-assisted biographical work (EABW) with individuals in the second half of life: study protocol of a multicentre randomised controlled trial

BackgroundEquine-assisted therapy is more often practiced with children and adolescents than with the elderly, although individuals in the second half of life could also profit from it. This group, from the age of 50, is characterised by increasing emotional, social, health-related and cognitive changes; a critical life event, such as a neurological illness or loss of a family member, can increase the likelihood of subclinical depression. Individuals who exhibit depressive symptoms not necessarily diagnosed with a major depression may suffer from relevant losses of quality of life (e.g. sleep disorders, memory disorders, feelings of guilt, hopelessness). Despite the fact that the various healthcare systems are in general more frequently used, such individuals often do not receive adequate therapy. The processing of one’s biography (reminiscence) is an elementary component of most psychotherapy approaches and has been demonstrated to treat and prevent the development of major depression. In this study, equine-assisted biographical work (EABW), a combination of equine-assisted therapy and biographical work, will be applied with individuals with subclinical depression in the second half of their life.MethodsThis is a multicentre, prospective, randomised, controlled and open phase III study in enrolling participants with subclinical depression. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether a preventive, equine-assisted, age-specific treatment combining elements of equine-assisted intervention with those of biographical work offers better treatment potentials in comparison to a control group with no intervention. Study participants in the intervention group will receive weekly equine-assisted biographical work over a period of 8 weeks. The primary endpoint is the change in Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) in a pre-post comparison. Secondary endpoints include other health-related questionnaires including quality of life, reminiscence functions and anxiety.DiscussionThe present study is the first randomised study examining the efficacy of biographical work with a horse and has the potential to establish an empirically based treatment for individuals in the second half of life and improving the symptoms of subclinical depression.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00017010. Registered on 01 April 2019

Ruminative and mood associations for age differences in social and directive reasons to think and talk about life experiences.

Reminiscing, or thinking and talking about our past experiences, can have mood enhancing effects. Rumination is implicated in reminiscence and yet has been shown to have negative effects on mood, with important differences between age groups. However, age differences in the effects of reminiscing on mood, and particularly the effects of rumination within reminiscence, are less explored. Two different age groups completed self-report measures of the positive directive (planning for present and future behaviors) and social (communication) uses of autobiographical memory, as well as maladaptive rumination and depression symptom severity. Young participants (Mean age: 21.82) ruminated more and reported greater frequency of using the directive and social functions of thinking and talking about past experiences than older adults (Mean age: 71.82). These reminiscence processes were also differentially associated with depression symptoms between age groups when tested in structural equation models. In older participants, but not young participants, the directive function was negatively associated with depression severity; in young participants, but not old participants, the social function was negatively associated with depression severity. Furthermore, although depressive and abstract rumination was directly positively related to depression scores in both samples, this association was inverted when the effect of rumination on depression was calculated through functions of reminiscence. The implications of these results for intervention development in older versus young adults, is discussed.

Effects of a simple reminiscence intervention program on the reminiscence functions in older adults.

Reminiscence promotes the acceptance of oneself and others, a sense of meaning, and the integration of the present and the past. The currently accepted classification contains eight reminiscence functions grouped in three broader functions: self-positive functions (identity, problem-solving, and death preparation); self-negative functions (bitterness revival, boredom reduction, and intimacy maintenance); and prosocial functions (conversation and teach-inform). The main objective of this study was to investigate how the eight dimensions change over time in a sample of healthy older adults after an intervention based on simple reminiscence and subsequent follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Participants were evaluated individually before, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention. Participants included 139 healthy older adults (71 intervention group and 68 control group). Ten weekly sessions lasting 2 hours each were administered, based on a simple reminiscence program. Participants were assessed with the Reminiscence Functions Scale. After the intervention, in the treatment group, there was a significant increase in the self-positive functions of problem-solving and death preparation, and these effects were maintained even at the follow-up; there was a significant reduction in the self-negative functions of bitterness revival and intimacy maintenance; and there was a significant increase in the prosocial function of conversation. When applying an intervention based on reminiscence, it is important to evaluate how it influences these functions because this information can help us to modify the objectives of the intervention and increase its effectiveness.