Educational intervention for mental health and health behaviors in elderly Iranian women randomized controlled trial

The increasing elderly population presents major healthcare challenges worldwide, with elderly women being particularly vulnerable due to biological and cultural factors. Educational interventions can improve health-promoting behaviors and mental health in older adults, yet limited evidence exists for culturally-adapted interventions in developing countries like Iran. This randomized clinical trial evaluated an educational intervention's effect on mental health and health-promoting behaviors in 140 elderly women aged 60 years and older in southern Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 70) and control (n = 70) groups with no sample attrition. The intervention group received seven 60-minute educational sessions on acceptance of age-related changes, physical activity, interpersonal relationships, stress management, positive thinking, and spiritual growth. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, and General Health Questionnaire-28, then analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27 with independent and paired t-tests and Cohen's effect size indices. Baseline comparisons showed no significant group differences (p > 0.05). One-month post-intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in all health-promoting behavior dimensions and mental health indices compared to controls (p < 0.001 for all comparisons), with effect sizes indicating 98-100% of intervention participants outperforming controls. This culturally-adapted multidimensional educational intervention significantly improved mental health and health-promoting behaviors in elderly Iranian women. Trial Registration: IRCT20111017007816N20.