Effects of Group Participation on Happiness of Elderly People in Community
Keywords:
Happiness, Elderly people, Group activityAbstract
This study was a quasi-experimental research aimed to use group participation to promote happiness for elderly people in community. Seventy-two elderly people were randomly selected and allocated into an experimental group and a control group, 36 persons in each group. The experimental group joined physical and mental group activities. The physical group activity was a group exercise program in every weekdays’ evenings for 2 months. The mental group activities were singing, recreational activities for elderly, and group dining. Happiness, body balance, and health related quality of life were measured before and after 2 months of group participation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean, percentage, and standard deviation. ANCOVA was used to compare between the experimental group and the control group.
The results showed that after group participation for two months, happiness of the elderly people in experimental group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001). The body balance and health related quality of life in elderly were also significantly higher after group participation than before participating in the group activities (p<0.001). These findings revealed that the group participation program could improve happiness, body balance and health related quality of life among elderly people.
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