Stress management program shows beneficial effects on the emotional health of seniors

A Canadian research team has released the results of a study on stress resilience in seniors. Their findings were published on January 5, 2025 in Frontiers in Psychology.The study involving 170 seniors with an average age of 76 found that O'stress, a six-week stress management program, had beneficial effects on the emotional health of participants. Those who followed the program used more problem-solving strategies and had less anxiety three weeks after completing the program and their diurnal cortisol levels, an indicator of chronic stress, were significantly lower than those of non-participants.

Program for teens adapted to seniors

The O'stress program is based on DeStress for Success, an innovative program created by the Centre for Studies on Human Stress to help teens deal with the stress of transitioning to high school.

In a groundbreaking study led by Sonia Lupien, the Centre's director, published in Neuroscience in 2013, DeStress for Success was shown to decrease cortisol levels and depressive symptoms in participating teens who were experiencing strong negative emotions at the start of the school year.

Since then, DeStress for Success has been adapted in partnership with Plusquellec's team for several populations, including teens at high risk for behavioral problems (2016) and young people with autism spectrum disorder (2018).

Countering emotional contagion

In her doctoral research under the supervision of Université de Montréal professors ierrich Plusquellec and Sébastien Grenier, Marie-Josée Richer adapted DeStress for Success to the specific needs of seniors.

"Aging, like adolescence but for different reasons, is a particularly sensitive period when individuals are more vulnerable to chronic stress and its consequences," Plusquellec noted.

O'stress incorporates elements relevant to aging, social relationships and, in particular, emotional contagion, the tendency to get caught up in the emotions of others. According to a recent study by the same researchers, emotional contagion is a significant factor in psychological distress among seniors. An educational component on emotional contagion was therefore included in the O'stress program to help participants recognize and manage this dynamic on a daily basis.

O'stress uses a variety of approaches including small-group workshops to help seniors identify symptoms of stress and release that energy through activities such as bopping to The Beatles' "Twist and Shout." Participants also analyze their social network to identify sources of support, pressure and emotional contagion, and then problem-solve to find solutions.

The success of O'stress highlights the enormous potential of short, accessible interventions to counteract the harmful effects of chronic stress in the elderly.

By demystifying stress and its effects, and then teaching effective techniques for coping with that stress, we equip participants to strengthen their resilience and overall well-being."

Marie-Josée Richer, Professor, University of Montreal

The research team now hopes to expand the O'stress program and evaluate its effectiveness in other contexts and populations. Their work could also inspire similar interventions in the areas of mental health and aging.