Effect of Solution-focused Group Counseling Approach on the Happiness of Postmenopausal Women Suffering from Empty Nest Syndrome

Background & aim: Empty nest syndrome reduces the quality of life and happiness among postmenopausal women, and it seems that counseling is one of the efficient approaches which can be used to manage this problem. Due to the scarcity of research in the field of counseling in postmenopausal women, the present study was conducted to assess the effect of the solution-focused group counseling approach on the happiness of postmenopausal women with empty nest syndrome. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 75 postmenopausal women referring to health centers, Mashhad, Iran in 2019 Subjects were selected via convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups of solution-focused group counseling and control. In the intervention group, six 90-minute counseling sessions were held on a weekly basis. Data were assessed in two stages before and after the intervention using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and Fishers' exact test. Results: Based on the results, no statistically significant difference was observed in the mean score of happiness before the intervention (P>0.05). Nonetheless, after the intervention, the mean happiness score in the solution-focused group counseling significantly differed from the mean score obtained in the control group (p <0.001). Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, it can be concluded that solution-focused group counseling can be used to improve the happiness of postmenopausal women due to the statistically significant increase in the mean total happiness score of postmenopausal women underwent this counseling approach.