Positive Psychotherapy to Improve the Quality of Life of Paraplegic Veterans through Virtual Social Networks

Background and Aim: The application of social networks in psychological interventions is novel, but tends to rapid increase. People who have a need for psychological interventions may benefit from such modern technologies. In the present study, we aimed to study the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy on the quality of life of paraplegic veterans through social networks.
Methods: This was a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test with the control group. The population consisted of all paraplegic veterans in Khuzestan province in 2017. A total of 36 veterans were randomly selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Questionnaires used included “Health-related quality of life (HRQOL)”, “Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI)” and “Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI)”, which were completed by both groups before the intervention. Then, a positive psycho-therapeutic intervention was performed on the experimental group during 14 sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Both groups completed the questionnaires again post-test. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
Results: Positive psychotherapy through social networks has a significant effect on improvement in quality of life (in physical, psychological, and environmental health) (P<0.05) and decreasing sleep disorders and depression of veterans (P<0.001). This intervention did not have a significant impact on social health, this impact was achieved at a moderate level (between 23 to 71 percent).
Conclusion: Positive psychotherapy through virtual networks can improve the quality of life of paraplegic veterans. Modifying beliefs, increasing social interactions and increasing intellectual and physical activity for doing homework led to improvement in quality of life. There are challenges to the application of this technique.