The Effect Of Square Dance On Fear Of Falling,Sleep Quality And Quality Of Life In Older Women

This study takes square dance as an intervention,older women as an objective to determine the effect of square dance on fear of falling,sleep quality,and quality of life in older women.A total of 50 healthy older women aged 60-69 years were recruited in this study.All older women were randomly divided into an experimental group(n=25)and a control group(n=25).The experimental group received 12 weeks of square dance intervention(3 times/week,60 minutes/time).The control group maintained their daily lifestyle unchanged.Before and after the intervention,the researchers used the Modified Fall Efficacy Scale(MFES),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),and the Short Form-36 Health Survey(SF-36)to assess fear of falling,sleep quality,and quality of life of two groups.SPSS 24.0 statistical software was used to perform statistical analysis.All measurement data were described as Mean±Standard deviation(χ ± S).When data obeys the normal distribution,the independent sample t test is used for the comparison between groups,and the paired sample t test is used for the comparison for the intro-group;when data does not obey the normal distribution,the Mann-Whitney U test is used for the comparison between groups.The non-parametric Wilcox-on test was used for comparison for the intro-group.The test significance level α is set as “p<0.05” indicates that the difference is statistically significant;“p<0.01” indicates that the difference is very significant statistically.A total of 47 older women completed two required evaluations.Before the intervention,there were no statistically significant differences in the age,height,weight,MFES,PSQI,and SF-36 scores of the two groups(p>0.05).The study compared the MFES,PSQI,and SF-36 scores of the two groups before and after the intervention:(1)Comparison of the MFES scores between groups: After 12 weeks of square dance,the differences in the total MFES scores and various dimensions scores within the experimental group were statistically significant(p<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the total MFES scores and various dimensions scores within the control group(p>0.05).Before and after the intervention,the differences in the total MFES scores and various dimensions scores between groups were very statistically significant(p<0.01);(2)Comparison of the PSQI scores between groups: After 12 weeks of square dance,the differences in the total PSQI scores,sleep quality,sleep latency and daytime dysfunction scores within the experimental group were very statistically significant(p<0.01),sleep duration,sleep disturbance scores was statistically significant(p<0.05),while the differences in habitual sleep efficiency and use of sleeping medication scores were not statistically significant(p>0.05).There were no significant differences in the total PSQI scores and various dimensions scores within the control group(p>0.05).After the intervention,the differences in the total PSQI scores and daytime dysfunction scores between groups were very statistically significant(p<0.01),and there were statistically significant differences between groups in the sleep quality,sleep latency,and sleep disturbance scores(p<0.05),while the differences in sleep duration,habitual sleep efficiency,and use of sleeping medication scores were not statistically significant(p>0.05);(3)Comparison of the SF-36 scores between groups: After 12 weeks of square dance,the differences in overall physical health,mental health,physical functioning,role-physical,vitality,and mental health scores within the experimental group were very statistically significant(p<0.01).The differences in general health scores were statistically significant(p<0.05),while the differences in bodily pain,social functioning,and role-emotional scores were not statistically significant(p>0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the overall physical health,mental health,and various dimensions scores within the control group(p>0.05).After the intervention,the differences in the overall mental health,vitality,and mental health between groups were very statistically significant(p<0.01),and the differences in the overall physical health,physical functioning,and role-physical scores were statistically significant(p<0.05),while the differences in bodily pain,social functioning and role-emotional scores were not statistically significant(p>0.05).The study came to the following conclusions:(1)The 12 weeks of square dance can decrease fear of falling among older women,and enhance balance confidence during indoor and outdoor activities;(2)The 12 weeks of square dance can improve sleep quality among older women,especially improve sleep quality,sleep latency,sleep disturbance,and daytime dysfunction;(3)The 12 weeks of square dance can improve quality of life among older women,promote overall physical and mental health,especially improve physical functioning,vitality,and mental health.