Effect of Square Dance Interventions on Physical and Mental Health among Chinese Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Jazz Dance on Menopausal Symptoms and Psychological Aspects: A Randomized Clinical Trial Pilot Study With Follow-Up

To analyze the short-term (one month intervention and post-intervention) and long-term (six-month follow-up) effects of Jazz Dance on menopausal symptoms (somatic, psychological and urogenital), in addition to the psychological aspects in specific (anxiety, depression, mood, stress, and aging perspective), compared to the control group of menopausal women. Randomized clinical trial with early postmenopausal women divided into two groups: Jazz Dance Intervention Group (GIDJ) (n = 23), and control group (CG) (n = 24). The physical exercise group received interventions of two weekly sessions of 60 minutes each, for 16 weeks. The control group received monthly calls, educational lectures, and maintained their usual activities during the intervention period. Assessments with all participants occurred at baseline, after the 1st month, after the interventions, and at the six-month follow-up. The evaluations are assessed by questionnaires and include menopausal symptoms (Menopause Rating Scale), depressive and anxiety symptoms (Anxiety and Depression Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale), mood (Brunel Mood Scale), and aging perspective (Sheppard Inventory). There was a significant improvement in GIDJ outcomes post-intervention, such as menopausal symptoms (p = .001), psychological aspects (anxiety (p =  <.001), depression (p = .016) and stress (p = .030)); in the integrity domain (p = .011) for the aging perspective, and in the confusion (p = .028) and vigor (p = .044) domains for mood. Furthermore, the CG showed significant improvements in the happiness domain at one month of intervention (p = .043) from the perspective of aging. Jazz Dance is effective in treating symptoms of menopause, depression, anxiety and stress, especially with an intervention of at least 16 weeks duration.

Post-COVID social engagement and depression among Chinese older adults: exploring rural/urban and gender differences

PURPOSE

This study investigates the impact of post-COVID social engagement on depression levels among Chinese older adults, with a focus on rural/urban and gender differences.

METHODS

Using the year 2018 and year 2020 data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study analyzed pre- and post-COVID depression levels and social engagement indicators, including going-out, activities and networking among Chinese older adults (N = 8,793).

RESULTS

Results showed a significant increase in depression levels across all demographic groups post-COVID, with rural females exhibiting the highest levels of depression. Reduced social engagement was associated with increased depression, particularly among rural males and females. Subgroup analyses highlighted nuanced patterns: rural males suffered from decreased intense activities and online contacts, while urban males experienced heightened depression with reduced visiting and light activities. Rural females reported increased depression with decreased moderate activities and dancing outdoors but decreased levels with reduced online contacts. Conversely, urban females experience decreased depression with reduced social engagements, suggesting areevaluation of priorities amidst pandemic challenges.

CONCLUSION

This study has underscored the importance of considering individual, cultural, and contextual factors in understanding mental health outcomes among Chinese older adults. Findings inform targeted interventions aimed at promoting psychological well-being and resilience among Chinese older adults in the post-COVID era, including community-based programs and mental health screenings, to foster social connection and emotional support.

A Chinese Dance Therapy Framework

Genuine Chinese dance therapy is in the ascendant and psychiatric approaches that involve a broad spectrum of principles such as ontological identity, social inclusion and collective support, aestheticisation and expressive catharsis, symbolic exorcism, trance and Buddhist mindfulness. Its models are based on a wealth of Chinese dance genres originating from various dynasties as well as cultural traditions of ethnic minorities. Due to different epistemological backgrounds of Western diagnostic manuals and traditional Chinese views of mental diseases, complex understanding of pathologies and therapeutic dynamics is needed. Therefore, this opinion piece suggests a theoretical framework that encourages interdisciplinary approaches as well as inclusive transcultural psychiatry and related philosophy of science.

The impact of square dancing on psychological well-being and life satisfaction among aging women

As the most popular sport among middle-aged and elderly women in China, square dancing has both physical and psychological benefits for menopausal women. Previous studies have shown that square dance exercises can promote the physical health of older women, but there is a lack of research on the influence of middle-aged and elderly women on mental health and mediating variables. Therefore, this study starts with one of the important indicators of mental health-positive affects, aiming to explore the impact of square dance on the positive emotions of elderly women and further explore the mediating mechanisms involved. We send out The Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale to a total of 2311 middle-aged and elderly women. SPSS 23 software and PROCESS were used to perform regression analysis and establish mediation models. Modeling results show square dance exercises could positively predict positive affect through the chain mediating effect of psychological resilience and life satisfaction. The results of this study are of great significance for promoting the extensive participation of middle-aged and elderly women in sports and protecting their mental health.

Effects of square dance exercise on cognitive function in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: the mediating role of balance ability and executive function

BACKGROUND

Square dancing is a kind of aerobic fitness exercise without environmental restrictions that yields many benefits for physical and mental health; this exercise is popular among middle-aged and elderly people in China and in these populations in other countries. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of square dance exercise on the overall cognitive function of elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to research its mechanisms.

METHODS

A total of 60 elderly people with MCI (60-69 years old) without square dance experience were selected and randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The experimental group participated in square dance exercise for 12 weeks, while the control group maintained their original lifestyle habits. One week before and after the intervention period, the overall cognitive function, physical fitness, and executive function of both groups were measured.

RESULTS

According to the results, square dance exercise directly improved the overall cognitive function of elderly individuals with MCI and indirectly affected overall cognitive function through the mediating effects of balance ability and executive function.

CONCLUSIONS

Square dance exercise represents a nonpharmacological intervention for the prevention and treatment of MCI. Importantly, it is best to combine this exercise with other forms of physical exercise and comprehensive treatment programs such as cognitive training, social interaction, and psychological intervention to realize its maximum effect.

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.

Effects of different exercise modalities on lipid profile in the elderly population: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidemia, characterized by elevated total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), has long been recognized as a major risk factor for age-related diseases. Recent studies have shown that exercise can be effective in mitigating dyslipidemia in older adults. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of different exercise modalities (aerobic exercise [AE], resistance exercise [RE], aerobic+resistance exercise [AE+RE], and high-intensity interval training) on lipid profile in the elderly population, in order to identify the most effective exercise modality for maintaining lipid profile health in older adults.

METHODS

A comprehensive database search of PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database. Eligible studies were individually assessed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool version 2, and the data were analyzed and processed using RevMan 5.4.1 analysis software.

RESULTS

This study identified 20 randomized controlled trials with a total of 988 subjects, of which 541 were in the exercise group and 447 in the control group. Our analysis showed that AE significantly reduced TC (P < .05), triglycerides (P < .01), and LDL-C (P < .01), while increasing HDL-C (P < .01) in the elderly population. RE significantly reduced the elevation of TC (P < .01) and LDL-C (P < .05) indices in the elderly population, while AE+RE had a significant effect on decreasing TC (P < .01) and LDL-C (P < .01) indices.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis indicates that AE is the most effective exercise modality for reducing dyslipidemia in older adults, compared to RE, AE+RE, and high-intensity interval training. These findings suggest that AE should be promoted as an important lifestyle intervention to improve lipid profile health in the elderly population. However, further research is needed to investigate the optimal duration, frequency, and intensity of AE required to achieve the most beneficial effects on lipid profile health in older adults.

Energy Costs of Chair Sitting and Standing Video Exercises in Chinese Older Adults Over 60 Years

Home-based video exercise interventions improve older adults' physiological performance and functional capacity. Little is known about the energy costs of video exercises in older adults. The Compendium of Physical Activities (PAs) has few items with PA metabolic equivalents (METs) in older adults. This study measured the energy costs of four chair and two standing exercises (sitting Tai Chi, Yoga, mobility ball, aerobics: standing, slow aerobics, and fast aerobics). Fifteen females and 14 males, 62-87 years (M ± SD, 73 ± 7.7 years), were categorized into three age groups (60-69, 70-79, 80-89). Oxygen uptake (VO2, ml·min-1·kg-1) and heart rate (HR, b·min-1) were measured by indirect calorimetry and heart rate monitor. MET values were calculated as standard- (activity VO2/3.5), rounded- (significant digit rounded to 0, 3, 5, 8), and corrected METs (individual resting metabolism). Results showed chair Yoga, Tai Chi, and mobility ball ranged from 2.0 to 2.8 rounded METs (light intensity). Chair- and standing aerobics ranged from 3.0 to 4.3 rounded METs (moderate intensity). Averaged HR ranged from 91.9 ± 12.7 b·min-1 to 115.4 ± 19.1 b·min-1 for all PAs. Corrected METs were higher than standard METs (P < .05). Standard METs were similar between age groups (P > .05). In conclusion, this study is unique as it measures the energy costs of sitting and standing video exercises that can be performed by older adults at home or in an exercise facility. Knowing the energy costs of PAs for older adults can provide exercises interventions to prevent sedentary lifestyles.

Fitness Dance Counteracts Female Ph.D. Candidates' Stress by Affecting Emotion Regulation

Background: The impact of stress on the nation's physical and mental health is considerable. Exercise is considered to have beneficial effects on mental health and the capacity for coping with stress. The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of fitness dance intervention on female Ph.D. candidates' stress, and compare it with the intervention effects of MBSR. Method: A repeated measurement experimental design was used to evaluate the effects of fitness dance and MBSR on Chinese female Ph.D. candidates' stress. Results: Twelve weeks of fitness dance and MBSR can reduce participants' stress from severe to moderate. Eight weeks of fitness dance can reduce the tension from perceived stress (p = 0.019) and loss of control from perceived stress (p = 0.043). Twelve weeks of fitness dance can reduce the tension from perceived stress (p < 0.000), loss of control from perceived stress (p = 0.002) and perceived stress (p = 0.001). Fitness dance and MBSR affect emotion regulation, thereby affecting stress. Fitness dance reduced participants' stress by improving their cognitive reappraisal ability. MBSR reduced participants' stress by improving their cognitive reappraisal ability and expression suppression ability. Conclusions: Fitness dance, as a method of exercise intervention, is suitable for reducing Chinese female Ph.D. candidates' stress.

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.