Comparing the Life Meaning, the Feeling of Loneliness, and the Image of God in Prisoners and Non-Prisoners

Background: This study aimed to compare the life meaning, the feeling of loneliness, and the image of God in two imprisoned and non - imprisoned groups. Methods: The research design consisted of the type of comparative descriptive - causal studies and the statistical population is all prisoners of Semnan city, and to participate in the study, 60 prisoners and 60 non-prisoners were selected by the available method, as well as two groups, in terms of some demographic variables, were matched. The measurement tools of the study included the Life Meaning Questionnaire (Steger), Feeling of Loneliness (Russell), and Imagination of God (Greenaway). Questionnaires were analyzed after collection. Results: The results of the study showed that there is a significant difference between the life meaning in two prisoners and non-prisoners groups and the mean score of the meaning of life in the prison group is significantly lower than the non-prison group. There is also a significant difference in loneliness between two prisoners and non- prisoners groups and the mean of loneliness scores in prisoners is significantly higher than non-prisoners. On the other hand, there is a significant difference regarding "image of God" between prisoners and non-prisoners individuals, and the mean "image of God" scores in prisoners are less than those in non–prisoners. Conclusions: According to the result, it can be concluded that tests showed that all three hypotheses of the researcher were confirmed. In the following, the results of these tests will be reviewed. Keywords: Life meaning, loneliness feeling, Image of God in  imprisoned groups,  Image of God in  non-imprisoned groups

Comparing the Life Meaning, the Feeling of Loneliness, and the Image of God in Prisoners and Non-Prisoners

Background: This study aimed to compare the life meaning, the feeling of loneliness, and the image of God in two imprisoned and non - imprisoned groups. Methods: The research design consisted of the type of comparative descriptive - causal studies and the statistical population is all prisoners of Semnan city, and to participate in the study, 60 prisoners and 60 non-prisoners were selected by the available method, as well as two groups, in terms of some demographic variables, were matched. The measurement tools of the study included the Life Meaning Questionnaire (Steger), Feeling of Loneliness (Russell), and Imagination of God (Greenaway). Questionnaires were analyzed after collection. Results: The results of the study showed that there is a significant difference between the life meaning in two prisoners and non-prisoners groups and the mean score of the meaning of life in the prison group is significantly lower than the non-prison group. There is also a significant difference in loneliness between two prisoners and non- prisoners groups and the mean of loneliness scores in prisoners is significantly higher than non-prisoners. On the other hand, there is a significant difference regarding "image of God" between prisoners and non-prisoners individuals, and the mean "image of God" scores in prisoners are less than those in non–prisoners. Conclusions: According to the result, it can be concluded that tests showed that all three hypotheses of the researcher were confirmed. In the following, the results of these tests will be reviewed. Keywords: Life meaning, loneliness feeling, Image of God in  imprisoned groups,  Image of God in  non-imprisoned groups

Comparing the effectiveness of logotherapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on the loneliness of the elderly

Background: As a natural process of maturation, aging has both positive and negative aspects and causes new alterations in a person's social and psychological standing. Therefore, psychological therapy can assist the elderly in recovering from their individual, societal, and economic impairments. In this context, it appears crucial to identify more effective therapies. Aims: The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of logotherapy with acceptance and commitment therapy in reducing elderly loneliness. Methods: The research design was quasi-experimental and consisted of a pre-test, a post-test, and a control group. The statistical population comprised all elderly residents of Tehran in 2021, 45 of whom were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group from among the elderly residing in health homes in Tehran. Data was collected using Adult social and emotional loneliness scale (ELS; DiTommaso et al., 2004). In the current study, the first experimental group received logotherapy (Frankel, 1963), while the second experimental group received acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; Hayes, 2004). The control group did not get any intervention. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using one-way and multivariate covariance analysis. Results: Adjusting the pre-test scores revealed a significant difference between the groups of logotherapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and control in terms of loneliness at the post-test stage (P<0.05), and the two intervention groups compared to the control group had a significant effect on loneliness and its components, But the effectiveness of the two intervention groups was not significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy and logotherapy, despite the use of unique techniques, have efficient and practical origins and features that reduce the feeling of loneliness in the elderly