Comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and mindfulness training on death anxiety and feelings of emptiness in elderly women with Symptoms of hypochondriasis

Marammazi Poor, Zahra; Aghdasi, Alinaghi; Panahali, Amir

doi:10.22075/cprpi.2026.38782.3287

Comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and mindfulness training on death anxiety and feelings of emptiness in elderly women with Symptoms of hypochondriasis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zahra Marammazi poor ¹

Alinaghi Aghdasi ²

Amir Panahali ³

¹ Department of Psycholog, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

² Department of Psychology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

³ Department of Counseling, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

10.22075/cprpi.2026.38782.3287

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and mindfulness training on death anxiety and feelings of meaninglessness in elderly women with hypochondriasis in 2023.

Method: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with a three-month follow-up and a control group. The statistical population consisted of elderly women with hypochondriasis symptoms in Ahvaz city. Using convenience sampling, 45 individuals were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (schema therapy and mindfulness-based therapy) and a control group (15 per group). Data collection tools were the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (1970) and the Steger et al. Meaning in Life Questionnaire (2006). The collected data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA in SPSS version 26.

Findings: The results indicated that both mindfulness-based training and schema therapy were effective in reducing death anxiety and feelings of meaninglessness (increasing meaning in life) (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of mindfulness-based training and schema therapy in reducing death anxiety in elderly women (p ≥ 0.05). However, mindfulness therapy was more effective than schema therapy in reducing feelings of meaninglessness (increasing meaning in life) (p ≤ 0.05).

Keywords

Schema therapy

mindfulness therapy

death anxiety

feelings of emptiness

hypochondriasis

Subjects