| Abstract [eng] |
Emilija Lukošiūtė. Change of health metrics in elderly individuals by implementing dance movement therapy within a tight-knit community setting. Master's thesis. Supervisor – Assoc. Prof. Dr. S. Zvicevičienė, consultant - Assoc. Prof. Dr. L. Samsonienė. Vilnius, 2024, pp. 67. Aim - to analyse changes in health parameters in elderly individuals by implementing dance movement therapy (DMT) withing a tight-knit community setting. Objectives: 1. To provi-de an overview of the characteristics of elderly individuals' life stages, encompassing both their physical and psychosocial characteristics alongside strategies aimed at offering support. 2. To review the theoretical and practical applications of DMT for elderly people. 3. To investigate fall risk as well as positive mental health indicator changes among elderly individuals living in nursing homes through the application of DMT. 4. To analyse changes in social engagement using a DMT intervention. Methodology. The participants of the study were elderly individuals (n=19, 10 females, 9 males) with an average age of 81.1 ± 5.7. Qu-antitative research methods: fall risk assessment using the Tinetti test and positive mental health assessment with the Positive Mental Health (PMH) scale. Qualitative research method: the change in social engagement is assessed using an observational method. Assessment of was carried out twice: before the start of the dance movement therapy sessions as well as after the sessions. During the first and last cycle of DMT - the change in the social involvement of the research participants in the sessions was evaluated. Sessions were held 2 times a week, totaling 12 dance movement therapy sessions. Conclusions: 1. The group of older individuals is divided into three categories: young, older and oldest se-niors. At this stage of life, a person’s physical and psychosocial health as well as personal independence majorly deteriorates. To enable individuals to thrive, public service systems have been established. 2. Dance movement therapy is characterized by theoretically and empirically grounded practical value in the context of physical and psychosocial rehabilita-tion: the application of DMT interventions is associated with improved physical, psycholo-gical, and social functioning. 3. It was estabished that DMT improved the positive mental health indicators of the participants (p<0.05) (Cohen's d=1.66) and reduced the risk of fal-ling (p<0.05) (Cohen's d=2.55), regardless of the nature of movement with or without assis-tive devices. 4. Upon analyzing the results of the qualitative study, positive changes in socia-lization were observed including interaction with the therapist, within the group, as well as increased engagement in activities following dance movement therapy. |
