The Effectiveness of Spiritual Therapy Training and Life Skills Group Training on Reducing the Feeling of Loneliness and Anxiety Symptoms of Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Introduction: War is a contributing factor to the occurrence and progression of mental disorders, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is a common psychological outcome for individuals who have experienced war. This study aims to assess the impact of spiritual therapy training and life skills group training on alleviating feelings of loneliness and anxiety symptoms in veterans with PTSD, while also examining how social support may influence these effects. Method: The current study was an applied research involving a randomized clinical trial with a pre-test-post-test and follow-up (۳ months) design conducted in Tehran during the summer and fall in ۲۰۲۳. The sample size for this study was ۶۰ veterans who were selected through convenience sampling. The research included a control group and two experimental groups consisting of veterans with PTSD. The experimental group received spirituality therapy sessions twice a week for eight sessions, each session lasting for ۴۵ minutes, while the life skills experimental group attended eight sessions twice a week for ۴۵ minutes each. The research utilized the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), UCLA Loneliness Scales, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) as assessment tools. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis H in SPSS software version ۲۷ and JASP software version ۱۸.۱.۰ at a significance level of ۰.۰۵. Results: The findings of this study showed that the anxiety variable was significantly different between the teaching spiritual therapy and teaching life skills in a group way groups and the control group (P<۰.۰۵). According to the results, the teaching life skills in a group way method was more effective than the teaching spiritual therapy method. Similarly, the loneliness variable was significantly different between the teaching spiritual therapy and teaching life skills in a group way groups and the control group (P<۰.۰۰۱). According to the results, teaching spiritual therapy was a more effective method for reducing loneliness than teaching life skills in a group way. Conclusion: According to the findings of the current study, both life skills training and spiritual therapy training have shown effectiveness in decreasing anxiety and loneliness in PTSD veterans. To enhance their effectiveness, life skills training can be conducted in group settings to alleviate anxiety levels, while spiritual therapy training can target reducing feelings of loneliness among veterans. Additionally, identifying PTSD veterans and providing them with spiritual therapy combined with developing social support can also help in reducing their anxiety levels.

کلیدواژه ها:

spiritual therapy ، Life Skills Group Training ، Loneliness ، anxiety ، Veterans ، Social Support ، Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)