Study On The Mental Health Of The Elderly Practitioners Of Taijiquan In Qingyang City

In the new century,population aging has become an inevitable trend of social development.As of midnight on Nov 1,2020,China had 264 million people over the age of 60,accounting for 18.7 percent of the total population of 1.412 billion,according to the seventh national population census released by the State Statistics Administration.At present,our country has crossed the first period of fast population aging and is dealing with the second period of even faster population aging.With the increasing of the aging population base,the mental health problem of the elderly becomes more and more prominent.During the 21 years from 1996 to 2016,the mental health level of the elderly in China decreased year by year.Existing studies have shown that physical exercise plays a positive role in improving mental health of the elderly.Strengthening physical exercise for the elderly has become one of the important measures to positively deal with population aging.Tai chi,as a soothing sport,is popular among the elderly in China and has been vigorously promoted at the national level.This study takes the mental health status of old Tai Chi practitioners in Qingyang City as the research object.By using the methods of literature,questionnaire,interview,mathematical statistics and logical analysis,this paper analyzes and discusses the five mental health dimensions of the elderly practitioners of Tai chi in Qingyang city,including self-character,emotional experience,adaptive ability,interpersonal communication and cognitive effectiveness.The study reached the following conclusions:1.The motivation of the elderly practitioners of Tai Chi in Qingyang City to participate in Tai Chi mainly focuses on strengthening the body,pleasing the body and mind,preventing and treating diseases,improving sleep quality and so on.2.The elderly practitioners of Tai Chi in Qingyang City can improve their positive sense of happiness,reduce psychological troubles and relieve fatigue after participating in Tai Chi exercise,and have a good subjective exercise experience.3.The mental health level of the elderly Tai Chi practitioners in Qingyang City is generally good,among which,they are at an excellent level in the dimensions of self-character,adaptive ability and interpersonal communication,and at a good level in the dimensions of emotional experience and cognitive efficacy.4.The mental health of the elderly Taijiquan practitioners in Qingyang City has significant differences in gender,education level,marital status,living style,physical condition and daily leisure time;There are also significant differences in the participation years,weekly frequency,length of each participation,subjective fatigue and participation forms of Tai Chi.5.Some dimensions of mental health of elderly Tai Chi practitioners in Qingyang City are correlated with years of Tai Chi participation,weekly frequency of Tai Chi participation,duration of each participation and subjective fatigue of Tai Chi participation.Among them,the number of years of Tai Chi participation,weekly frequency of Tai Chi participation and duration of each participation are positively correlated with some dimensions of mental health.There was a negative correlation between the subjective fatigue and some dimensions of mental health.Based on the above conclusions and part of the interview records,the following suggestions are made:1.It is suggested that elderly practitioners of Tai Chi in Qingyang should try to practice Tai Chi with others in combination with their own actual situation.It is appropriate to feel relaxed,ensure that each practice time is more than 1 hour,the frequency of exercise is about 5-6 times a week,and keep practicing Tai Chi all year round,so that Tai Chi can become a lifestyle after retirement.Help to improve their mental health level.2.It is suggested that the governments of counties and districts of Qingyang regularly invite psychological experts and scholars to carry out lectures on the mental health of the elderly in various communities.Through the analysis of typical cases,mental health knowledge and methods and skills of self-psychological counseling are taught to the elderly,so as to guide them to stay away from mental illness and choose a positive life style.3.It is suggested that Qingyang National Fitness Activity Center regularly hold social sports instructors into the community publicity activities,to provide a platform for communication between social sports instructors and elderly lovers of Tai chi,to ensure that the elderly can get scientific and effective guidance when practicing Tai Chi.4.It is suggested that Qingyang National Fitness Activity Center take the lead to organize Taijiquan performances or competitions regularly,so as to show the vitality of the city’s elderly people practicing Taijiquan,vigorously publicize the fitness value and cardiotonic value of Taijiquan,expand the local influence of Taijiquan,and attract more elderly people to participate in Taijiquan.To promote Qingyang national fitness activities.5.It is suggested that Qingyang Taijiquan Association should give full play to its own advantages,strengthen cooperation with sports authorities,vigorously promote Taijiquan culture with the help of media,enhance the association’s popularity and influence,unite and lead the majority of Taijiquan enthusiasts,further popularize and promote Taijiquan,constantly improve the development level of Taijiquan,and promote the development of Qingyang national fitness cause.