A Comparison of single-session positive reappraisal, cognitive restructuring and supportive counselling for older adults with type 2 diabetes

This study compared a single-session intervention of positive reappraisal to cognitive restructuring and supportive counselling to examine whether a brief positive reappraisal intervention could significantly increase positive reappraisal coping and positive emotion and lead to reductions in anxiety and depression. Inclusion criteria were: aged 60 years or older, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, cognitively intact, and English language proficiency. 81 participants were randomly allocated to a condition and self-report measures of positive reappraisal, emotion, anxiety and depression were compared pre-intervention and at 1-week follow-up. The positive reappraisal intervention led to significantly increased positive reappraisal coping compared to the other two conditions, and significantly higher positive but not negative emotion compared to the control condition. No group differences in anxiety and depression were found. The results indicate that the single-session intervention may be effective for increasing older adults’ positive reappraisal coping and specifically their positive emotion when compared to supportive counselling.