| Abstrakt: |
Background: Older Black adults facing gentrification may engage less in neighborhood walking and social opportunities because of gentrification's effect on mental health. Reminiscence therapy promotes coping which mediates negative feelings, improves mood and emotional well‐being, and improves depressive symptoms. Method: The Sharing History Through Active Reminiscence and Photo‐Imagery (SHARP) Study integrated reminiscence with neighborhood walking. In two pilots (n = 19 healthy; n = 21 including 8 with MCI) Black adults aged >55 engaged in image‐prompted conversations about local history while walking 1‐mile 3x/week for 6 months in Portland, Oregon's historically Black neighborhoods. At months 1, 3, and 6, surveys assessed past‐month mental health and mood. Focus groups assessed participant satisfaction with the intervention. Result: Seventy‐five percent of participants completed all pilot measures, including all 8 with MCI. Pre/post rankings of "all," "most," or "a good bit" of the time (vs. "some," "little," or "none of the time") in the past 4 weeks feeling downhearted/blue was maintained in Pilot 1 at 8%, but in Pilot 2 increased 0% to 10% (healthy) and decreased 13% to 0% (MCI). Feeling calm or peaceful increased in Pilot 1 67% to 83%, and in Pilot 2 60% to 80% (healthy) and 50% to 75% (MCI). Having lots of energy decreased in Pilot 1 92% to 83%, and increased in Pilot 2 70% to 80% (healthy) and 14% to 88% (MCI). In pilots combined, 93% ranked their mood "better" right after group walks and 90% ranked their mood "better" since walks began. In discussions, participants described reminiscing while walking as "joyful," "very important," and "something to look forward to." Conversational reminiscence helped them "become more engaged," "go through all their feelings" and "respond to changes in a healthy manner." Conclusion: Reminiscence therapy, particularly when paired with walking, may be critical for developing positive coping to mediate the trauma of gentrification and improve mood among older Black adults. Group reminiscence therapy may help healthy and impaired older Black adults cope with neighborhood changes and maintain good mental health, critical for supporting other healthy behaviors like physical and social activity that may prevent cognitive decline and onset of dementia symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
