The Effects of Short- and Long-Term Life Review Interview on the Psychological Well-Being of Young Adults

The present study investigates the effects of short- and long-term life review interviews on young adults' psychological well-being. Study 1 investigates mood using the Japanese UWIST adjective checklist (yielding two scores: Tense Arousal which represents low hedonic tone and Energetic Arousal which represents high hedonic tone). Results show that Energetic Arousal significantly increased after life review, although Tense Arousal did not change. Study 2 investigates self-esteem and mental health (measured by the General Health Questionnaire—6 factors: General Illness, Somatic Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, Social Dysfunction, Anxiety and Dysphoria, Suicidal Depression). Both self-esteem and mental health scores increased after life review. With regard to factors of mental health, General Illness and Anxiety Dysphoria scores were much higher than those on Somatic Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, Social Dysfunction, and Suicidal Depression. There was also a significant difference between before and after scores on General Illness, Somatic Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, and Anxiety Dysphoria, but not in Social Dysfunction and Suicidal Depression. That is, short-term life review led to higher hedonic tone scores, and long-term life review led to better mental health scores in healthy young adults. These results suggest that both short- and long-term life review in an interview promote young adults' immediate psychological well-being. Further research is required for young adults who have psychological problems.