BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aging and inactivity are two main factors in reducing the self-esteem of the elderly. Self-esteem plays a role in human’s emotional, social and psychological adjustment, which becomes more important during elderly age. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a course of massage-yoga combination on the self-esteem of the elderly women in 2017.
METHODS: The present study was quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest and follow-up. The statistical population of this study consisted of elderly women in the centers of Farhikhtegan and Jahandidehgan Senior Sanatoria of Shahrekord. The study sample consisted of 30 elderly women aged 60-85 years who had the criteria to enter the study and were purposefully selected, which were randomly divided into two experimental (15) and control (15) groups. Rosenberg's self-esteem questionnaire was used as a tool in this study. For eight weeks, the members of the experimental group underwent three sessions (40 minutes) each week under the supervision of a massage and yoga specialist. After a month, the follow-up test was taken. In order to investigate the research hypothesis, multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was applied.
FINDINGS: Totally, 76.6% of the elderly were housewives, 26.6% were retired, 56.6% were alone, 23.3% lived with their children and 20% lived with their spouses. Based on the results of MANCOVA, the self-esteem scores increased in the posttest and follow-up stages in experimental group than controls. The results also showed that after eight weeks of the massage-yoga combination program, the difference between the scores of two groups was significant in the posttest (p = 0.001) and follow-up (p = 0.001) stages.
CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, the combination of massage and yoga can be used as a complementary method to increase self-esteem in the elderly.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Special Received: 2020/05/20 | Accepted: 2020/07/4 | Published: 2020/08/23