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The Effectiveness of Logotherapy in Reducing Death Anxiety among Iranian Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis Studies
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Ali Afshari   , Seyed Mohammad Hossein Mousavi * , Mahnaz Ahmadi |
| Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. |
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Abstract: (28 Views) |
Background: Death anxiety is a major mental health challenge among older adults and can significantly impair their psychological well-being and quality of life. Although logotherapy has been proposed as an effective intervention for reducing death anxiety, systematic and integrated evidence regarding its effectiveness among Iranian older adults remains limited. This study aimed to estimate the effect size of logotherapy on death anxiety in Iranian older adults using a meta-analytic approach.
Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Experimental studies published between 2012 and 2024 were systematically searched in IranDoc, SID, MagIran, and Noormags. A total of 23 studies, including randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies with control groups that reported sufficient data to calculate effect sizes (Hedges’ g) and focused on group-based logotherapy interventions, were included. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, and only studies with acceptable methodological quality were entered into the analysis. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (version 2) under fixed- and random-effects models. Given the significant heterogeneity among studies (Q = 26.741, p < 0.001; I² = 55.12%), the random-effects model was applied.
Results: The meta-analysis revealed that logotherapy had a large and statistically significant effect on reducing death anxiety among older adults (Hedges’ g = −1.248; 95% CI [−1.573, −0.924]; p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses indicated greater effectiveness in women and mixed-gender samples compared to men, and slightly higher effects among older adults residing in nursing homes than those living with family.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that logotherapy can be considered a reliable clinical approach for promoting mental health among older adults. Integrating logotherapy into psychological care programs for older populations—particularly in institutional and community-based settings—may enhance psychological adaptation to death-related concerns.
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| Keywords: Meta-analysis, older adults, logotherapy, Death anxiety |
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Eldely mental and psychological issues
Received: 2026/01/4 | Accepted: 2026/03/30 | Published: 2026/03/30
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