An Investigation of Soundscape Factors Influencing Perceptions of Square Dancing in Urban Streets: A Case Study in a County Level City in China

The relationship between square dance exercise and quality of life in middle-aged and older adults: chain mediated effects of negative emotions and attitudes toward aging

Background

With the continuous development of society and the economy, population aging has become an inevitable global development trend, triggering a series of social problems and having a more serious impact on the physical and mental health of middle-aged and older adults. Physical exercise is one of the key factors for improving the overall health and quality of life of individuals, but the role of square dance exercise and the quality of life of middle-aged and older adults have not yet been clarified.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the associations between square dance exercise and the quality of life of middle-aged and older adults and its mechanism of action, including its effects on physical health and mental health, with negative emotions and attitudes towards aging as mediating variables.

Method

This study adopted a cross-sectional research method, using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale in Simplified Chinese (DASS-21), Attitudes toward Aging Questionnaire (AAQ), and 12-item Short Form of the Health Survey (SF-12), and launched an online survey on the QuestionStar platform from August-September 2023 for 4,636 middle and older adults aged 45-74 years. The survey results were analyzed via Pearson correlation analysis via SPSS 27.0 and structural equation modeling analysis via Mplus 8.3 to test the model fit and mediation effects.

Results

Square dance exercise was significantly correlated with negative emotions, attitudes towards aging, and quality of life (r = -0.042-0.878, p < 0.01). Square dance exercise significantly and positively predicted quality of life (β = 0. 202, p < 0.001). Negative emotions and attitudes towards aging are chain mediators of square dance exercise and quality of life, and the mediation consists of three pathways: separate mediation of negative emotions, separate mediation of attitudes towards aging, and chain mediation of negative emotions-attitudes towards aging.

Conclusion

This study is dedicated to deepening the scientific role of how square dancing, as a health-promoting activity, can optimize the quality of life of middle-aged and older adults through the mediating mechanism of negative emotion alleviation and positive attitudes towards aging and then optimize the quality of life of middle-aged and older adults. This process not only enriches the theoretical framework of the complex interactions between psychosocial factors and healthy aging but also provides a solid empirical foundation for the development of health intervention strategies aimed at enhancing the overall well-being and quality of life of the middle-aged and older adults.

Mechanisms connecting square dance to sleep quality among middle-aged and older Chinese females: serial mediation roles of social support and depressive symptoms

Background

Square dance is gaining increasing popularity among middle-aged and older Chinese women who are also at high risk of sleep disturbance. Although previous studies have shown exercise could improve sleep quality, the association between square dance and sleep quality remains to be discussed, and even less is known about the potential mechanism underlying this association.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between square dance and sleep quality and test if social support and depressive symptoms together play a serial mediating role in the influence of square dance on sleep quality.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 549 middle-aged and older Chinese females from September to December 2020 in Shao Yang City, Hunan Province of China, with ethics approval granted (SYU [2020]002). Square dance involvement was assessed by three questions about the time participants spent in square dance. Social support, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Social Support Self-Rating Scale (SSRS), and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. The serial mediation model was analyzed by the bootstrapping method to assess whether social support and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between square dance and sleep quality.

Results

Two-thirds of the participants had high involvement in square dance and most reported a moderate and high level of social support (98.54%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance was 19.49 and 26.78%, respectively. The serial mediation model showed a significant association between square dance and sleep quality, which was fully mediated by social support and depressive symptoms in a serial model (total effect c = -0.114, 95%CI = -0.227 to -0.001; direct effect c' = -0.036, 95% CI = -0.138 to 0.065; total indirect effect ab = -0.077, 95% CI = -0.139 to-0.016).

Conclusion

Our study extends the understanding of how square dance is associated with sleep quality through the serial mediating roles of social support and depressive symptoms. It provides crucial implications for developing square dance interventions to improve sleep quality among middle-aged and older Chinese females.

A Study on the Soundscape of Underground Commercial Space in Lu'an City and Hefei City, China

Soundscape is an important part and one of the main factors of the underground space environment. Field surveys were conducted to evaluate the soundscape of underground commercial spaces and to compare it with the soundscape of the above-ground commercial spaces between two cities (Lu'an City and Hefei City) in China, consequently presenting the construction strategy of the soundscape of underground commercial spaces in urban areas. The results showed that the sound in the shopping center, which people found comfortable, was at the lower to intermediate level. The main sounds that people perceived as "general" sounds were environmental sounds such as music, the humming of the air conditioning, people talking, walking, and the hawking of the stores. Nevertheless, "very comfortable" sounds were background music and the sound of live performances, which were indicated in the majority of people's opinions on evaluating a comfortable feeling, thus reflecting the impact of the sound of mall music on people's cognitive psychology. Therefore, it is necessary to control the volume of environmental noise at a certain level so that people's health is not adversely affected. It also helps shoppers to feel more comfortable psychologically and physiologically.

Association between walking and square dancing-oriented leisure-time physical activity and cognitive function among middle-aged and elderly people in Southwest China

BACKGROUND

Southwest China is facing a serious aging problem across the country, but the status of cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly people in this region is superior to the national average. This study intends to reveal the leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) pattern in this region and explore whether this pattern is beneficial for cognitive function.

METHODS

The data came from the 2019-2021 baseline survey on cognitive function of a natural population cohort conducted by West China Hospital of Sichuan University. A structured questionnaire was used to investigate the LTPA status of the participants, and the Mini-Mental State Examination was used to evaluate their cognitive function. Then, we used multiple linear regression to analyze the association between LTPA and cognitive level, and further subgroup analysis was carried out according to sex, age and waist-to-hip ratio.

RESULTS

A total of 2697 participants were enrolled, with an average age of 66.19 ± 6.68 years. The average cognitive function score was 27.23 ± 2.72, of which 8.60% indicated mild cognitive impairment. Their median LTPA level was 24.50 MET-hours per week, of which 70.37% reached the activity level recommended by WHO, with the main types being walking (1340 cases, 49.68%), square dancing (270 cases, 10.01%), or walking + square dancing (172 cases, 6.38%). Multiple linear regression showed that cognitive function increased with the amount of LTPA from 11.25 MET-hours/week to 36.40 MET-hours/week (β 0.09 for 11.25 ~ 24.50 MET-hours/week, β 0.38 for 24.50 ~ 36.40 MET-hours/week) but stabilized at more (β 0.39 for ≥36.40 MET-hours/week). The positive association persisted even for those who only walked (β 0.37 for 24.50 ~ 36.40 MET-hours/week, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Middle-aged and elderly people in Southwest China hold a relatively high level of LTPA status, and walking and square dancing-oriented LTPA are positively correlated with cognitive function.

The path to healthy ageing in China: a Peking University-Lancet Commission

Around the world, populations are ageing at a faster pace than in the past and this demographic transition will have impacts on all aspects of societies. In May 2020, the UN General Assembly declared 2021–2030 the Decade of Healthy Ageing, highlighting the importance for policymakers across the world to focus policy on improving the lives of older people, both today and in the future. While rapid population ageing poses challenges, China’s rapid economic growth over the last forty years has created space for policy to assist older persons and families in their efforts to improve health and well-being at older ages. As China is home to 1/5 of the world’s older people, China is often held up as an example for other middle-income countries. This Commission Report aims to help readers to understand the process of healthy ageing in China as a means of drawing lessons from the China experience. In addition, with the purpose of informing the ongoing policy dialogue within China, the Commission Report highlights the policy challenges on the horizon and draws lessons from international experience.

Subjective Exercise Experience and Group Cohesion among Chinese Participating in Square Dance: A Moderated Mediation Model of Years of Participation and Gender

(1) Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between years of participation, subjective exercise experience, and group cohesion among gender-specific square dance practitioners. (2) Methods: The Subjective Exercise Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ) and Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) were used to evaluate Subjective Exercise Experience (SEE) and group cohesion (GC). An analysis was conducted on 130 Chinese (63 males and 67 females) using multiple group analysis within a structural equation model. (3) Results: (a) The positive aspects of Subjective Exercise Experience (SEE) and Positive Well-Being (PWB), had a strongly positive effect on GC in both groups. The negative aspects of SEE, Psychological Fatigue (PF), and Psychological Distress (PD), had negative effects on GC. (b) Only for the male group was there an indirect effect of participation years on the association between SEE and GC in the model (a × b = 0.062, 95% CI [0.001, 0.181]; standard error (SE) = 0.062, p = 0.048). (c) The significant differences between paths coefficients were noticed in the association of years of participation with SEE (t = -2.043) and GC (t = -1.962). (4) Conclusion: Based on these results, gender differences in terms of the partial mediating role of adherence in the relationship of SEE and GC were presented for future research, fitness popularization, and society.

The beneficial effects of square dance on musculoskeletal system in early postmenopausal Chinese women: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study was set to investigate the correlation between square dance and musculoskeletal system of early postmenopausal Chinese women.

METHODS

Chinese postmenopausal women, who had been without menstruation for 1-10 years from the onset of menopause were recruited from community centers for this study. A standardized structured face-to-face interview was performed to collect demographic information, life styles, personal medical history, diet and menstrual status. Subjects who had been practicing regular square dance without participated in other sports activities for more than 2 years and over 4 h per week (usually more than 45 min per time and more than 5 times per week) were assigned to square dance group. Those postmenopausal women who had not participated in regular exercises (no more than 0.5 h per week) were recruited as the sedentary control group. Bone mineral density (BMD) of spine, total hip and femoral neck was measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Lower limb muscle strength was measured for the non-dominant leg, body flexibility was measured by a simple trunk bend-and-reach test, and body balance was evaluated using a single-stance test for the non-dominant leg. Independent two-tailed Student's t-test was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

152 subjects from community centers were selected for this study and divided into square dance group (n = 74) and control group (n = 78). The square dance subjects had higher lumbar spine BMD (p = 0.01) and total hip BMD (p = 0.02) than control subjects, but there was no significant difference of femoral neck BMD (p = 0.48) between these two groups. Functional testing indicated that square dance subjects had higher lower limb muscle strength (p < 0.01) and longer single-stance time (p = 0.02) than the control subjects, but there was no significant difference in trunk bend-and-reach (p = 0.12) between these two groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that postmenopausal Chinese women can get beneficial effects, like higher BMD, stronger lower limb muscle and improved body balance ability on musculoskeletal system by participating in square dance regularly.

Research on the Spatio-Temporal Differentiation Characteristics and Factors of Typical Square Cities in China from the Perspective of Human Settlements

Taking Dalian, a typical square city in China, as an example based on data from remote sensing images, questionnaires, spatial statistics, social economy, etc., 48 squares in the main districts were constructed from the perspective of human settlements in order to build five systems: nature, humanity, society, residence and support. The aim was to explore the spatio-temporal differentiation characteristics and their driving mechanism. The results show the following: (1) The index system was constructed based on the human settlements perspective, and PCA was used to comprehensively evaluate it. Four principal component factors were extracted, and their cumulative contribution rate is 78.701%. On this basis, city squares were divided into four types: comprehensive square, recreational square, commercial service square and traffic square. (2) Using Mapinfo to visualize the square space, and taking the People’s Square as the center, the squares from the Tsarist Russia and Japanese colonial rule time periods were mainly distributed within 5 km, mostly in the direction of NE-SEE. During the construction of New China, city squares were distributed in all directions of the city, mainly between NE-SE and NNW-SSW. (3) ArcGIS was used to create an analysis chart of square service scope. Compared with 1999, it was more concentrated in central cities in 2016, and the service scope was relatively small. However, a square with high popularity has a wider influence. (4) The formation and evolution of the spatial pattern of city squares are affected by many factors, such as nature, economy, society, politics, ecological environment and technology. In the planning and development of city squares, Dalian should pay full attention to human settlements perpectives and add luster to the development of livable cities.

The Association Between the Subjective Exercise Experience of Chinese Women Participating in Square Dance and Group Cohesion: The Mediating Effect of Income

Background: Chinese square dance has become well known worldwide in recent years, and most participants are women who dance with a group in their communities. In particular, middle-aged women may have physical and mental health problems, and participating in square dance may increase women's positive subjective well-being and decrease their negative emotions, which may improve their health over the long term. In addition, participating in square dance can promote group cohesion. Our study aimed to examine the relationship between the subjective exercise experience of participating in square dance and group cohesion and whether some variables (e.g., age, education, duration, income level, and work) play a role as mediators in the association with subjective exercise experience and group cohesion. Methods: In total, 1,468 Chinese women from 31 provinces and 82 cities participated in this study by completing an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a subjective exercise experience questionnaire and a group environment questionnaire. We analyzed the collected data and built a statistical model. Results: (a) Square dance satisfied women's physical and psychological needs partly; (b) positive well-being (PWB) was positively correlated with group cohesion, and fatigue was negatively correlated with group cohesion; and (c) the income level was a partial mediator of the relationship between group cohesion and subjective exercise experience. Conclusion: Chinese women have different motivations for participating in square dance. Because this activity can help meet women's physical and psychological needs, an increasing number of individuals worldwide participate in square dance. As women's subjective well-being increases, group cohesion increases, and vice versa. Moreover, the subjective exercise experience remains a significant predictor of group cohesion after including income level as a mediator, suggesting that the model indicates partial mediation.

Effects of nurse-led square dancing on older patients with mild cognitive impairment combined with depressive symptoms: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to verify the feasibility and preliminary effects of nurse-led square dancing designed to improve older adults' cognitive function and depressive symptoms who with MCI.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental pilot study design was adopted for the present study. Screening for cognitive function was conducted among older adults (≥ 60 years old) living in two communities in Beijing who complained of memory loss. A total of 107 older patients with MCI and depressive symptoms were diagnosed after obtaining informed consent. Thirty-five patients selected from each community were included in the study as control and intervention groups, respectively. The two groups of patients received health education while the intervention group participated in a square dance intervention program led by nurses three times per week for 60 min per session over a period of three months. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Peking version (MoCA-P) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) were used to assess the cognitive function and depressive symptoms of patients in the two groups at three time intervals; before intervention, at the end of the three-month intervention period, and over a three-month follow-up period after the end of intervention.

RESULTS

Feasibility of the intervention was established with a high completion rate of 90%. Data collection for 63 out of 70 patients enrolled for the study was completed after six months. MoCA-P and GDS-30 scores of the intervention group were significantly different after the intervention when compared with the control group. A significant improvement in cognition was observed in the intervention group, and depressive symptoms decreased after intervention and follow-up when compared with the control group. During the intervention and follow-up phases, the MoCA-P score of the intervention group increased gradually with time. Furthermore, the MoCA-P and GDS-30 scores of the control group remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION

This study has revealed that square dance intervention exerts a positive impact on cognitive function and depressive symptoms among older patients suffering from MCI and depressive symptoms. The results of this study support the feasibility and preliminary effects of square dancing on relieving cognitive decline and depressive symptoms. Square dancing is a recommended type of intervention that can be applied to the local Chinese population because of its simplicity, convenience, and suitability for the older adults.

Introducing a Method for Intervals Correction on Multiple Likert Scales: A Case Study on an Urban Soundscape Data Collection Instrument

Likert scales are useful for collecting data on attitudes and perceptions from large samples of people. In particular, they have become a well-established tool in soundscape studies for conducting in situ surveys to determine how people experience urban public spaces. However, it is still unclear whether the metrics of the scales are consistently interpreted during a typical assessment task. The current work aims at identifying some general trends in the interpretation of Likert scale metrics and introducing a procedure for the derivation of metric corrections by analyzing a case study dataset of 984 soundscape assessments across 11 urban locations in London. According to ISO/TS 12913-2:2018, soundscapes can be assessed through the scaling of 8 dimensions: pleasant, annoying, vibrant, monotonous, eventful, uneventful, calm, and chaotic. The hypothesis underlying this study is that a link exists between correlations across the percentage of assessments falling in each Likert scale category and a dilation/compression factor affecting the interpretation of the scales metric. The outcome of this metric correction value derivation is introduced for soundscape, and a new projection of the London soundscapes according to the corrected circumplex space is compared with the initial ISO circumplex space. The overall results show a general non-equidistant interpretation of the scales, particularly on the vibrant-monotonous direction. The implications of this correction have been demonstrated through a Linear Ridge Classifier task for predicting the London soundscape responses using objective acoustic parameters, which shows significant improvement when applied to the corrected data. The results suggest that the corrected values account for the non-equidistant interpretation of the Likert metrics, thereby allowing mathematical operations to be viable when applied to the data.

Using Virtual Soundwalk Approach for Assessing Sound Art Soundscape Interventions in Public Spaces

This paper discusses the soundscape assessment approaches to soundscape interventions with musical features introduced to public spaces as permanent sound art, with a focus on the ISO 12913 series, Method A for data collection applied in a laboratory study. Three soundscape interventions in three cities are investigated. The virtual soundwalk is used to combine the benefits of the on-site and laboratory settings. Two measurement points per location were recorded—one at a position where the intervention was clearly perceptible, the other further away to serve as a baseline condition. The participants (N = 44) were exposed to acoustic environments (N = 6) recorded using the first-order Ambisonics microphone on-site and then reproduced via the second-order Ambisonics system in laboratory. A series of rank-based Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed on the results of the subjective responses. Results revealed a statistically significant positive effect on soundscape at two locations, and limitations related to sound source identification due to cultural factors and geometrical configuration of the public space at one location.

Exploring factors influencing whether residents participate in square dancing using social cognitive theory: A cross-sectional survey in Chongqing, China

Physical inactivity is a worldwide public health problem, and it is a risk factor for several chronic diseases. Square dancing nightly may be an efficient way to promote physical activity among Chinese residents. This study aims to explore factors that affect resident participation in square dancing on the basis of social cognitive theory constructs (outcome expectations, outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, self-control, and environment) that may provide a scientific basis for designing interventions to promote physical activity in the future.Forty squares near neighborhood communities in Chongqing were randomly selected. A sample of 1732 residents who came to these squares at 18:00-21:00 were interviewed using a social cognitive theory questionnaire jointly developed by researchers from Chongqing Medical University and Jackson State University.Among 1732 respondents, 279 (16.1%) were male and 1457 (83.9%) were female. A total of 939 (54.2%) of the respondents were square dancers. The mean age of the dancers was 58.6 (SD = 9.1) years. Of the dancers, 825 (87.9%) danced at least 150 minutes every week, and 792 (84.2%) indicated that they had danced for more than 1 year. All the constructs of social cognitive theory were significantly different between residents whether they danced or not (P < .001 for all). Women (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.03-2.31) were more likely to dance. Nonretired residents (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.39-0.74) were less likely to dance. Residents with income of more than CNY 4000 per month were less likely to dance (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23-0.86). Residents with high self-efficacy (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.81-2.22), and high self-control (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.18-1.34) were more likely to dance.This study provides salient implications for developing interventions to promote square dancing by using social cognitive theory. Gender, retirement, income, and self-efficacy would be the factors influencing whether residents participate in square dancing.

Effects of Chinese square dancing on older adults with mild cognitive impairment

The present study aimed to explore the effects of square dancing on global cognition, depressive symptoms, balance, and quality of life of older adults with mild cognitive impairment. We studied 66 older adults with mild cognitive impairment in a large nursing home. Participants were assigned to the intervention group (n = 33) or the control group (n = 33), according to their residential floor, which was determined by coin tossing. The intervention group underwent a 12-week Chinese square dancing routine, while the control group maintained usual lifestyle (without square dancing). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at weeks 6 and 12. The results showed positive effects of square dancing on all outcomes assessed, especially on depressive symptoms and quality of life-related mental well-being of the participants. This study showed that square dancing is a promising strategy for older adults with mild cognitive impairment and that long-term adherence can be beneficial.