Journal of

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) on survivor guilt and psychological well-being by explaining the mediating role of self-forgiveness in elderly people exposed to war trauma (Battle of Ramadan). This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population included all elderly people living in Kerman city in January 1404 who had experienced war-related trauma. The sample was selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received the compassion therapy intervention, while the control group remained on the waiting list. The research instruments included the Survivor Guilt Questionnaire, the Riff Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the Self-Forgiveness Scale. The results of data analysis showed that compassion therapy led to a significant reduction in survivor guilt and an increase in psychological well-being in the elderly. The results of the path analysis also confirmed that self-forgiveness, as a mediating variable, positively affects the relationship between compassion therapy and reducing guilt and improving mental health. Based on the findings of this study, compassion therapy, by strengthening the mechanism of self-forgiveness, is an effective approach to reducing psychological pain caused by war trauma in old age and can be used as a specialized intervention in nursing homes.