Afsaneh Aslinejad; Maryam Abdoshahi; Malihe Naiemikia
Abstract
Background: Mindfulness is defined as the deliberate and non-evaluative awareness of the current moment. This study examined the effects of two training techniques, specifically strength-endurance and balance training, on mindfulness, aggression control, and emotion regulation in female high school students.Methods: ...
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Background: Mindfulness is defined as the deliberate and non-evaluative awareness of the current moment. This study examined the effects of two training techniques, specifically strength-endurance and balance training, on mindfulness, aggression control, and emotion regulation in female high school students.Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental approach with a pretest and posttest design, conducted at a high school located in the 3rd district of Tehran, Iran in 2022. Among the 78 eligible female participants, 45 students were selected using a lottery method and were randomly assigned into three groups including body combat, body balance and control groups (each group including 15 participants). The experimental groups exposed to respected exercises for six weeks, with two weekly sessions lasting 45 to 60 minutes. The participants completed the Children and Adolescent Mindfulness Questionnaire (AAMS), the Aggression Questionnaire (AGQ), and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) in the pretest and posttest. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26, employing ANOVA, paired t-test, ANCOVA, and LSD post hoc test.Results: BMI of the participants was 19.64±1.67. Results showed that in the posttest, body balance and body combat groups had significantly better scores than the control group in mindfulness (3.80±0.46, 3.52±0.68, and 2.95±0.35, respectively, P=0.023), aggression control (1.10±0.33, 1.57±0.47, and 1.77±0.32, respectively, P=0.001) and emotion regulation (5.62±0.52, 507±0.67, and 4.34±0.55, respectively, P<0.001). Moreover, body balance had significantly higher scores than body combat group in terms of mindfulness (P=0.041), aggression control (P=0.004) and emotion regulation (P<0.001).Conclusion: Body combat, and body balance training can be assumed as an important intervention for enhancing the mindfulness, aggression, and emotion regulation among female adolescents. These findings may have practical implications for school teachers, exercise psychologists and occupational therapists.
Maryam Abdoshahi
Abstract
Background: The effects of participation in sports and physical activities on mental health in menopausal women have been less examined. Therefore, the goal of the current research was to further investigate the effects of participation in sports and physical activities using a Pilates training intervention ...
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Background: The effects of participation in sports and physical activities on mental health in menopausal women have been less examined. Therefore, the goal of the current research was to further investigate the effects of participation in sports and physical activities using a Pilates training intervention on mental health and happiness among menopausal women.Methods: The current research used an experimental method with pre-test and post-test using a control group. Thirty-two menopausal women from Tehran (district 5), Iran, in 2022, who were chosen using a convenience sampling method, participated in the study. The intervention group (n=16) was exposed to three months of Pilates exercises, while those in the control group (n=16) performed their regular daily activities. Mental health and happiness were measured using The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and The Oxford-Happiness Inventory, respectively, prior to and following the intervention. Independent t-test and analysis of covariance using SPSS version 26 were utilized to analyze the data.Results: The results showed similar mental health and happiness within both groups at baseline. Moreover, the results revealed that our sample had medium to high symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress at pretest. Furthermore, the participants in the intervention group reported lower depression (P<0.001), anxiety (P<0.001), and stress (P<0.001) as well as higher happiness (P<0.001) following the intervention than the control group.Conclusions: Based on our findings, it is recommended that menopausal women participate in various sports training courses such as Pilates to improve their mental health status.
