International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

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

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zahra Omrani 1
Narges Argha 2
Shiva Montazeri 3
Fatemeh Jamshiddoust-Miyanroudi 4
Zahra Farajzadeh-Jalali 5
1 Department of Psychology, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran
2 Department of Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili university, Ardabil, Iran
3 Department of Psychology, Behshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
5 Department of Psychology, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.30491/ijbs.2025.509844.2204
Abstract
 
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 (3 months) design conducted in Tehran during the summer and fall in 2023. The sample size for this study was 60 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 45 minutes, while the life skills experimental group attended eight sessions twice a week for 45 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 27 and JASP software version 18.1.0 at a significance level of 0.05.
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<0.05). 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<0.001). 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.
Keywords
Spiritual Therapy
Life Skills Group Training
Loneliness
Anxiety
Veterans
Social Support
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 19, Issue 2
Summer 2025
Pages 67-76