An outlook to the elderly living in nursing homes within the frame of positive psychology; gratitude, mental well-being and self-compassion

Elderly individuals living in nursing home experience positive and negative psychological effects due to they are in the last stages of their aging period. It is necessary for elderly individuals to achieve positive aging in this period in order to continue their lives in a meaningful way.For this reason, conducting research on the positive aspects of individuals may affect the process. The aim of this research is to ensure the elderly living in nursing homes; To examine the relationship between gratitude, mental well-being and self-compassion levels and to investigate whether gratitude, self-compassion level predicts mental well-being. Another aim of the research is to determine the levels of gratitude, mental well-being and self-compassion; and examine the differences according to the variables of gender, age, educations level, perceived income level, chronic illness and durution of stay in nursing home. The sample of study consists of a total of 120 elderly, 22 women and 98 men, aged 62 and over who are living in a nursing home affilliated to Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Nursing Home Branch Directorate. In this study, a quantitative, relational scanning model was used. Data analysis was used with SPSS for Windows package program. Gratitude Scale, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Self Compassion Scale and Information Collection were used as data collection tools in the study. The data obtained from the research were analyzed using correlation, multiple regression, t test technique, one-way analysis of wariance (ANOVA). As result of the research, it was determined that there are significant relationships between gratitude, mental well-being and self-compassion levels. In addition, it was found that gratitude and self-compassion levels predicted mental well-being explained %32 of them. It was determined that gratitude, mental well-being and self-compassion levels did not differ in terms of gender, age, perceived income level, education status, chronic illness and duration of stay in nursing home. However, it was also seen that the level of self compassion remained at the limit of the gender. Findings obtained in the research were discussed in line with the problems.