Feasibility of a Simplified Version of Guided Autobiography in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study developed a shortened version of guided autobiography (GAB), which consisted of four sessions in which participants wrote a weekly autobiographical essay and shared it with others. This intervention study aimed to help community-dwelling older adults find a meaningful life, and we tested its feasibility. In the final session, instead of an autobiographical essay, they created an autobiographical collage using photos and letters and shared it with others. Among those who participated in all sessions, ego integrity increased, and mental health tended to improve after the program. This study suggested that the shortened GAB can be feasible for positively accepting the self and finding meaning in life among Japanese older adults.