A 16-week concurrent exercise program improves emotional well-being and emotional distress in middle-aged women: the FLAMENCO project randomized controlled trial

Influence of physical activity level and perceived social support on mental health and psychological distress in women with menopause problems

Perceived Social Support (PSS) and Physical Activity (PA) could have an important role in reducing psychological distress in women with problems in the menopausal period. The aim was to analyze the associations between a) Self-Perceived Health (SPH), prevalence of self-reported depression and anxiety, and mental health and its subscales, through the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) with b) the Physical Activity Level (PAL) and c) the PSS, through the Duke-UNC-11 functional social support questionnaire in Spanish women with problems in the menopausal period. This document uses data from the Spanish National Health Survey of 2017, focusing on women between 40 and 69 years of age with problems in the menopausal period. Dependency relationships were found between the prevalence of depression and PAL, anxiety and PAL, and SPH with PAL (p < 0.001). Weak inverse correlations were found between PAL and mental health, Coping Success, Self-confidence, and Stress (rho: - 0.214 to - 0.258; p < 0.001). Also, weak and very weak significant inverse correlations were found between PAL and all items of the GHQ-12. Weak inverse correlations were found between PSS scores and mental health, Coping, and Stress (r: -0.201 to - 0.304; p < 0.001). Likewise, weak and very weak inverse correlations, although statistically significant, were found between the PSS scores and the responses to the GHQ-12 items. Very active women with higher PSS have less psychological distress, higher self-esteem, and better prevalence of positive health.

Effects of jazz dance and concurrent training on psychological variables in menopausal women: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To analyze the effect of two 16-week interventions with jazz dance and concurrent training compared to a control group on anxiety, depression, stress, mood, and the perspective of aging in menopausal women, after 1-month, post-intervention, and at the 6-month follow-up.

METHODS

70 post-menopausal women (53.19 ± 3.39 years) randomized into 3 groups:intervention group with Jazz Dance (JD); intervention group with Concurrent Training (CT), and Control Group (CG). Both interventions lasted 16 weeks, with 60-min classes, JD with a frequency of two weekly classes, and CT three times a week. The intensity of the JD was progressive and according to the frequency of beats per minute of the songs. In CT, the aerobic an initial intensity of 60% of HRmax, reaching 90%, and resistance the volume of sets and loads increased progressively throughout the intervention. Questionnaires related to symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); stress (Perceived Stress Scale); mood (Brunel Mood Scale); and aging perspective (Sheppard Inventory) were applied. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and protocol adherence analysis were performed.

RESULTS

In the protocol analysis, the JD showed improvements in anxiety and depressive symptoms after 1-month, which remained at the follow-up. The TC presented reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms after 16 weeks, which also remained at the follow-up. Considering stress, the CT showed improvements at all times and the JD post-intervention. As for mood, the CT presented reduced anger, mental confusion, and fatigue only after 1-month, and both exercise groups presented increased vigor at all times.

CONCLUSION

Both interventions were beneficial, however dance showed immediate results for anxiety and depression, and concurrent training for stress. Considering mood, concurrent training was more effective for anger, mental confusion, and fatigue, while both interventions were effective for vigor.

REGISTRATION

Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (REBEC) RBR - 87ndrv.

The effect of workplace bullying and self-efficacy on emotional distress among hospital nurses

AIMS

This study intended to explore the workplace bullying, self-efficacy and emotional distress of the nursing staff and determine the predictors of nursing staff's emotional distress.

METHODS

Cross-sectional and correlation designs were used, collecting data including socio-demographic data, workplace bullying, self-efficacy and emotional distress scales.

RESULTS

Results showed that the frequency of poor sleep quality in the recent 2 weeks, working in the intensive care centre or emergency room, high workplace bullying and low self-efficacy were the main predictors of emotional distress in nursing staff.

CONCLUSION

Nursing supervisors are advised to design suitable shift schemes to allow adequate time for nurses to maintain proper rest and develop a safety notification system to give bullied victims the assurance of safety. The design and implementation of the programs are encouraged to improve self-efficacy among nurses by strengthening the training of social skills, improving employees' communication skills and their relationships with other employees.

Effect of public square dancing combined with serotonin reuptake inhibitors on persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) in middle-aged and older women

BACKGROUND

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a functional vestibular disorder that causes chronic dizziness and limits daily activities. Although pharmacology, vestibular rehabilitation, and cognitive behavioral therapy have been proposed to have some efficacy, they have certain limitations. Some patients with PPPD report that public square dancing can effectively relieve the symptoms of dizziness and instability, and their mood improves.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of combining public square dancing with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs/SNRIs) on the subjective sensations of dizziness, balance enhancement, anxiety, and depressive symptom regulation in middle-aged and older women with PPPD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this trial, 124 patients diagnosed with PPPD were enrolled. Among them, 64 patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG), where they received square dance training combined with serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The remaining 60 cases were randomly assigned to the control group (CG), where they received only serotonin reuptake inhibitors and did not participate in organized sports activities, allowing them freedom in their daily lives. Data from the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Active-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), and Vestibular Disorder Activities of Daily Living Scale (VADL) were collected and compared at the beginning, 3 months, and 6 months of the trial to evaluate the effect of public square dancing on middle-aged and older women with PPPD.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the EG and CG before the trial. Compared with baseline measures, DHI, HADS, ABC, and VADL scores improved as the experiment progressed, and the improvements were more pronounced in the EG.

CONCLUSION

Public square dancing combined with serotonin reuptake inhibitors has a positive impact on the subjective sensations of dizziness, balance enhancement, anxiety, and depressive symptom regulation in middle-aged and older women with PPPD.

Effects of concurrent exercise on health-related quality of life in middle-aged women

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of a 16-week concurrent exercise program on health-related quality of life in middle-aged women.

METHODS

A total of 150 middle-aged women from the FLAMENCO project (age range 45-60 years) were randomized into a counseling (n = 75) or an exercise (n = 75) group. The exercise group followed a 16-week (3 days/week, 60 min/session) concurrent exercise program (aerobic + resistance training). The counseling group attended conferences on a healthy lifestyle. Participants' health-related quality of life was assessed with the EuroQol plus, a visual analog scale and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), where greater values indicate a better health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

The visual analog scale increased by 9.0% in the exercise group, whereas it only increased by 3.5% in the counseling group (p = 0.040). The SF-36 physical function, physical role, bodily pain, vitality and emotional role increased by 5.5%, 11.3%, 10.8%, 9.6% and 8.9%, respectively, in the exercise group, whereas these only increased by 0.6%, decreased by 0.7% and increased by 1.4%, 3.8% and 0.6% in the counseling group (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that a 16-week concurrent exercise program adapted for midlife women improved their health-related quality of life.

CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER

NCT02358109. Date of registration: 05/02/2015.

The influence of an exercise program in middle-aged women on dietary habits. The FLAMENCO project

OBJECTIVE

To determine the extent to which following an exercise training program can modify dietary habits and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) compared with a counseling group.

METHODS

These are secondary analyses from the FLAMENCO (Fitness League Against MENopause COst) project. The present randomized controlled trial included 150 perimenopausal women who were randomized into counseling (n = 75) or exercise (n = 75) groups. The counseling group attended conferences on a healthy lifestyle. The exercise group followed concurrently a 4-month (60 min/session, 3 d/wk) training and did not take part in the conferences. A validated food frequency questionnaire and the Mediterranean diet score were used to assess dietary habits and adherence to the MD, respectively.

RESULTS

The fish/shellfish intake was reduced in the counseling group and increased in the exercise group, with a difference between groups of 1.16 servings/wk ( P < 0.01). The counseling group reduced their beer intake, and the exercise group increased it, with a difference between groups of 1.07 servings/wk ( P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The exercise intervention did not have a significant impact on dietary habits or MD adherence scores in perimenopausal women. Notwithstanding, women in the exercise group increased their beer consumption, which might have been promoted by the social meetings after the exercise training.

Examining the Effect of Increased Aerobic Exercise in Moderately Fit Adults on Psychological State and Cognitive Function

Regular physical exercise can decrease the risk for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, increase life expectancy, and promote psychological health and neurocognitive functioning. Cross-sectional studies show that cardiorespiratory fitness level (VO2 max) is associated with enhanced brain health, including improved mood state and heightened cognitive performance. Interventional studies are consistent with these cross-sectional studies, but most have focused on low-fit populations. Few such studies have asked if increasing levels of physical activity in moderately fit people can significantly enhance mood, motivation, and cognition. Therefore, the current study investigated the effects of increasing aerobic exercise in moderately fit individuals on psychological state and cognitive performance. We randomly assigned moderately fit healthy adults, 25-59 years of age, who were engaged in one or two aerobic exercise sessions per week to either maintain their exercise regimen (n = 41) or increase their exercise regimen (i.e., 4-7 aerobic workouts per week; n = 39) for a duration of 3 months. Both before and after the intervention, we assessed aerobic capacity using a modified cardiorespiratory fitness test, and hippocampal functioning via various neuropsychological assessments including a spatial navigation task and the Mnemonic Similarity Task as well as self-reported measures including the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, Rumination Scale, Eating Disorders Examination, Eating Attitudes Test, Body Attitudes Test, and Behavioral Regulation of Exercise Questionnaire. Consistent with our initial working hypotheses, we found that increasing exercise significantly decreased measures of negative affect, including fear, sadness, guilt, and hostility, as well as improved body image. Further, we found that the total number of workouts was significantly associated with improved spatial navigation abilities and body image as well as reduced anxiety, general negative affect, fear, sadness, hostility, rumination, and disordered eating. In addition, increases in fitness levels were significantly associated with improved episodic memory and exercise motivation as well as decreased stress and disordered eating. Our findings are some of the first to indicate that in middle-aged moderately-fit adults, continuing to increase exercise levels in an already ongoing fitness regimen is associated with additional benefits for both psychological and cognitive health.

Football and Zumba Training in Female Hospital Staff: Effects after 12 and 40 Weeks on Self-Reported Health Status, Emotional Wellbeing, General Self-Efficacy and Sleep Problems

Background: This 40-weeks intervention study evaluates the effects on self-reported health status, emotional wellbeing, general self-efficacy and sleep problems among female hospital employees. Methods: 107 employees were cluster-randomized into three groups; football (FG), Zumba (ZG) and control (CG). Outcome measurements were conducted at baseline, 12 and 40 weeks. Weekly training frequencies in the first 12 and next 28 weeks were 2.4 ± 0.3 and 0.8 ± 0.2 in FG and 2.3 ± 0.3 and 0.9 ± 0.2 in ZG. Results: Compared to the CG, the ZG showed significant improvement in self-reported health status (p = 0.025), a reduced frequency of poor and restless sleep (on a 0–4 scale) (p = 0.004), as well as a tendency for reduction in the frequency of problems falling asleep (p = 0.055) and overall sleep problems (p = 0.051). Between baseline and 12 weeks, both the FG (p = 0.017) and the ZG (p = 0.017) showed within-group improvements in emotional wellbeing, whereas this improvement was maintained only in the ZG between baseline and 40 weeks (p = 0.002). The FG showed a significant within-group improvement in general self-efficacy (p = 0.012) between baseline and 12 weeks follow-up, with no such improvements in the other groups. Conclusion: The present findings revealed that a physical activity intervention with Zumba as well as football training may improve mental health and sleep outcomes in female hospital staff.