Most elderly people are emotionally stable and well-regulated up until the age of 70 to 80. Due to the effects of changes in their personal circumstances, some older people, however, regard their mental and physical deterioration as becoming self-evident before they turn 70. In old age, it's normal to experience things like forced retirement, the death of a spouse, changes in the home, or financial insecurity. In old age, a great variety of emotions are felt (Kunzmann et al., 2022).
Emotion is a psychological and cultural adaptation process that enables each person to respond adaptably and dynamically to environmental changes. Emotions add meaning to life, deepen human connections, teach people about their needs and feelings, and inspire them to take action (Troy et al., 2018). The phenomenon of emotions is complex. A single emotion consists of a cognitive evaluation, a bodily sensation, an intention, a personal sentiment, a motor response, and, frequently, an interpersonal component (Rompilla et al., 2022). Everyone, especially older adults, experience emotions on a regular basis. They face a wide range of emotions throughout any given day, along with their highs and lows. While some of these are manageable, others are more intense and challenging. It's common to experience those emotions occasionally. Yet, if they struggle with emotion management for an extended length of time, it may result in mental health issues and emotional regulation difficulties (McRae & Gross 2020).
A response to emotions that is poorly controlled and does not fall within the parameters of an acceptable emotional reaction is referred to as having problems with emotional regulation. The terms marked mood fluctuation, mood swings, and labile mood are also used to describe emotional regulation difficulties. Anger outbursts, anxiety, sadness, substance misuse, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and other self-destructive behaviors may be displayed by older adults who have trouble controlling their emotions. Negative moods, personality disorders, psychosis, and post- traumatic stress disorder are all strongly predicted by problems with emotional regulation. Over time, this disorder may affect older persons' quality of life, social contacts, and personal relationships (Dunn et al., 2018).
One's life balance can be thrown off by negative emotions, which are harmful. Lower mental health and inner peace are associated with higher levels of internal conflict, violence, and negative feelings and ideas. In fact, negative emotions and thoughts play a significant influence in the peace of mind maladjustment. In later life, especially, there may be a considerable correlation between peace of mind and effective emotion control. The spiritual and wisdom frequently represent a sense of inner harmony and a sense of wholeness and integration of the mind and body. The more inner peace elderly people have, the better off their minds are. As a result, regulating emotions may be a key therapy goal in psychological interventions for older persons (Isaacowitz 2022).
A reduction in the ability to control older adults' emotions might happen suddenly, but it can also happen gradually, slowly, and subtly. Hence, gerontological nurses should evaluate and identify any potential mental and emotional distress related to this crucial transitional aging era. Anxiety, despair, worry, and fear are frequently present throughout this time. Also, gerontological nurses should intervene to teach elders how to effectively control and manage their emotions and build personalized plans for each elder. Also, they should take action to stop older persons from making self- destructive decisions and engaging in behaviors like loneliness, sadness, suicide, denial of treatment, and denial of care from family members or medical professionals (Erhan et al.,2021).
Older persons who participate in educational emotional management nursing programs may experience an increase in positive emotions and a decrease in negative ones. The recommended therapies for the current study, constructive emotional management interventions, were constructed on the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy model (DBT). Linehan (2015) developed DBT, a cognitive behavioral treatment that incorporates evidence-based psychotherapy. Borderline personality disorder was its original intended application (BPD). Nowadays, it is utilized to treat a variety of emotional dysregulation and impulse control disorders and symptoms (Linehan & Wilks 2015).
Constructive emotional management therapies, which are based on DBT, are made up of a variety of skills that assist older persons in controlling their emotions, fostering better relationships, and enduring difficult circumstances without impulsivity. These interventions involve skills that should be incorporated and practiced into the daily lives of older individuals. They function similarly to muscles strengthen with use over
time. They instruct elderly people on what best skills are needed, when, and how to implement them. Thus further, constructive emotional management interventions could increase mental clarity, restore emotional dimensions, improve coping mechanisms, and lessen depressive symptoms as people age. The prevention or treatment of mental health issues as well as enhancing mental well-being and peace of mind in old age appear to be potential outcomes of constructive emotional management interventions with an emphasis on emotion-regulation. (Delhom et al., 2018).
