2.2 Effects of Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing on the Mental State of the Old and Middle-aged People
Today old people aged more than 60 are already taking up more than 10% of our total population. The aging population has brought about many problems on the physical and mental health of old and middle-aged people. According to relevant data, the old people are highly susceptible to chronic diseases and often have different degrees of bad moods and even mental disorder. In addition, life style, behavior, and mental state are major intrinsic factors influencing the physiological health of the old and middle-aged people [1][2][,3]. Therefore the popularization of a behavior pattern that is both welcomed by the people and improves the mental health of the old people has become an important link in the heath care of the old people. Students in Jiangxi University for the Aged were used as the research objects and SCL-90 (self-rating symptom scale) assessment was used to study the effects of Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing on the mental health of the old people.
2.2.1 Objects and methodology
2.2.1.1 Objects
Old students from University for the Aged People of Jiangxi Province and Activity Center for Retired Cadres of the Provincial Party Committee of Jiangxi were selected as the experimental objects. These objects were aged between 50 and 70 and did not have any history of systematic physical exercises or severe diseases. A total of 214 persons completed the two surveys before the experiment and after 6 months. The experimental group contained 115 persons (35 males and 80 females, 63.49±5.84 years of age on an average). The control group contained 99 persons (23 males and 76 females, 62.54±6.28 years of age on an average). There was no statistically significant difference between surveyed objects of both groups in terms of sex composition, educational background, and average age (P＞0.05). This indicates that surveyed objects of both groups had good comparability. 203 of these samples completed the surveys after 1 year of experiment. 109 of them belonged to the experimental group (30 males and 79 females) and 94 belonged to the control group (20 males and 74 females).
2.2.1.2 Methodology
Objects of the experimental group practiced Health Qigong for 1h every morning for at east 5 days a week. Instructors were assigned to coach and instruct these objects. Official versions released by Health Qigong Administration Center of General Administration of Sports of China were used as the basis for the routines, requirements, and teaching guidance of Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing[4]. The control group does not participate in Health Qigong exercise or any other systematic fitness activity.
Test objects of both the experimental group and the control group were put to mental scale assessment respectively before the experiment, 6 months after the experiment, and 1 year after the experiment. A self-rating symptom scale (SCL-90) [5] (See Appendix 1) was used as the questionnaire. SCL-90 is frequently applied abroad and has been used in our country after it was introduced. It is one of the major tools for the assessment of mental health levels today. SCL-90 contains 90 symptom self-rating items each having 5 optional scores from 1 to 5. They respectively stand for the Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, and Very Often grades. The experimental object is required to check the corresponding boxes for these grades. According to requirements on the compilation of the SCL-90 scale, scores of 10 factors were respectively counted. The minimum score of each factor was 1 and the maximum score was 5.
SPSS10.0 statistical software was used to analyze the data. t-test was used for comparison mean values. According to the principles of statistics, before-and-after test results of both the experimental group and the control group are respectively put to intra-group and inter-group difference tests.
2.2.2 Results
2.2.2.1 Horizontal study
(1) SCL-90 test results of both groups before the experiment
From Table 1 we can see that before the experiment, there was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in terms of scores of SCL-90 factors (P＞0.05). Therefore both groups were comparable.
Table 2.2-1. Results and Comparison of Scores of SCL-90 Factors between both Groups before Experiment ()
Factor score / Experimental group n=115 / Control group n=99 / tSomatization / 1.57±0.54 / 1.58±0.53 / 0.14
Compulsion / 1.74±0.53 / 1.74±0.53 / 0
Interpersonal relationship / 1.53±0.56 / 1.54±0.45 / 0.14
Depression / 1.51±0.50 / 1.53±0.46 / 0.30
Anxiety / 1.43±0.49 / 1.45±0.45 / 0.31
Hostility / 1.42±0.50 / 1.41±0.39 / 0.16
Terror / 1.30±0.46 / 1.31±0.48 / 0.16
Paranoia / 1.34±0.51 / 1.33±0.39 / 0.16
Psychosis / 1.33±0.43 / 1.34±0.45 / 0.17
Other / 1.48±0.47 / 1.49±0.49 / 0.15
(2) Test results of both groups after 6 months of experiment
From Table 2 we can see that after 6 months of experiment, the scores of SCL-90 factors of the experimental group were all lower than those of the control group. And differences in the scores of interpersonal relationship, depression, anxiety, paranoia, and other 5 factors were very significant. Differences in scores of compulsion, hostility, and psychosis were significant.
Table 2.2-2. Results and Comparison of Scores of SCL-90 Factors between both Groups after 6 Months of Experiment ()
Factor score / Experimental group n=115 / Control group n=99 / tSomatization / 1.47±0.50 / 1.59±0.42 / 1.88
Compulsion / 1.58±0.42 / 1.72±0.53 / 2.15*
Interpersonal relationship / 1.37±0.37 / 1.53±0.43 / 2.92**
Depression / 1.33±0.39 / 1.54±0.43 / 3.75**
Anxiety / 1.28±0.33 / 1.44±0.42 / 3.12**
Hostility / 1.30±0.35 / 1.40±0.38 / 2.00*
Terror / 1.24±0.38 / 1.32±0.47 / 1.38
Paranoia / 1.20±0.33 / 1.34±0.40 / 2.81**
Psychosis / 1.23±0.32 / 1.35±0.42 / 2.37*
Other / 1.29±0.35 / 1.51±0.42 / 4.18**
Notes: *means P<0.05; ** means P＜0.01; same as below.
(3) Test results of both groups after 1 year of experiment
From Table 3 we can see that after 1 year of experiment, scores of all SCL-90 factors of the experimental group were further lower than the control group with very significant differences (P＜0.05).
Table 2.2-3. Results and Comparison of Scores of SCL-90 Factors between both Groups after 1 Year of Experiment ()
Factor score / Experimental group n=109 / Control group n=94 / tSomatization / 1.40±0.43 / 1.60±0.61 / 2.73**
Compulsion / 1.47±0.43 / 1.70±0.60 / 3.17**
Interpersonal relationship / 1.31±0.32 / 1.61±0.57 / 4.70**
Depression / 1.32±0.40 / 1.65±0.66 / 4.37**
Anxiety / 1.29±0.35 / 1.50±0.60 / 3.10**
Hostility / 1.16±0.18 / 1.34±0.39 / 4.32**
Terror / 1.17±0.30 / 1.34±0.60 / 2.61**
Paranoia / 1.13±0.32 / 1.40±0.56 / 4.29**
Psychosis / 1.18±0.26 / 1.41±0.54 / 3.95**
Other / 1.32±0.32 / 1.58±0.53 / 4.29**
2.2.2.2 Vertical study
(1) Analysis of test results of the experimental group before the experiment, after 6 months of experiment, and after 1 year of experiment
From Table 4 we can see that after 6 months of experiment, the scores of SCL-90 factors were all reduced to different extents. And the scores of compulsion, depression, anxiety, and other 4 factors were greatly reduced with very significant differences (P＜0.01). Scores of interpersonal relationship, hostility, paranoia, and psychosis were reduced with significant differences (P＜0.05). After 1 year of experiment, scores of all SCL-90 factors were further reduced with significant differences compared with scores before the experiment (P＜0.01 on an average).
Table 2.2-4. A Comparison of Differences in Scores of SCL-90 Factors of Experimental Group between Different Stages of Experiment ()
Factor score / F-A n=115 / F-B n=109 / F-C n=109Somatization / 0.10±0.67 / 0.18±0.71** / 0.08±0.65
Compulsion / 0.16±0.66** / 0.29±0.71** / 0.12±0.55*
Interpersonal relationship / 0.15±0.62* / 0.24±0.66** / 0.07±0.46
Depression / 0.18±0.60** / 0.21±0.65** / 0.02±0.56
Anxiety / 0.14±0.52** / 0.16±0.56** / 0.01±0.43
Hostility / 0.12±0.53* / 0.28±0.52** / 0.14±0.39**
Terror / 0.06±0.45 / 0.15±0.55** / 0.08±0.46
Paranoia / 0.13±0.56* / 0.22±0.56** / 0.08±0.41*
Psychosis / 0.10±0.46* / 0.16±0.48** / 0.05±0.38
Other / 0.19±0.58** / 0.15±0.58** / -0.03±0.47
Notes F-A stands for the differences between values measured respectively before experiment and after 6 months of experiment; F-B stands for the differences between values measured respectively before experiment and after 1 year of experiment; F-C stands for the differences between values measured respectively after 6 months and :after 1 year of experiment. (Same as below).
(2) Analysis of test results of the control group before the experiment, after 6 months of experiment, and after 1 year of experiment
Table 5 shows that there was no significant change in the scores of SCL-90 factors of the control group after 6 months and after 1 year of experiment. None of the differences was significant (P＞0.05).
Table 2.2-5. A Comparison of Differences in Scores of SCL-90 Factors of Control Group between Different Stages of Experiment ()
Factor score / F-A n=99 / F-B n=94 / F-C n=94Somatization / -0.01±0.67 / 0.01±0.76 / -0.01±0.78
Compulsion / 0.02±0.70 / 0.05±0.80 / 0.00±0.84
Interpersonal relationship / 0.01±0.57 / -0.05±0.74 / -0.08±0.73
Depression / -0.01±0.60 / -0.11±0.83 / -0.12±0.82
Anxiety / 0.01±0.60 / -0.04±0.74 / -0.06±0.69
Hostility / 0.01±0.56 / 0.07±0.56 / 0.06±0.58
Terror / -0.01±0.64 / -0.01±0.81 / -0.01±0.77
Paranoia / -0.01±0.50 / -0.05±0.67 / -0.05±0.71
Psychosis / -0.01±0.60 / -0.05±0.72 / -0.05±0.67
Other / -0.02±0.65 / -0.08±0.69 / -0.07±0.66
2.2.3 Discussion
Research showed that the effects of Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing on mental health became evident after 6 months of experiment. It provided obvious controlling effects on depression, sleep, and eating & drinking (other factors). After 1 year of experiment, the effects on mental health were even stronger and more comprehensive. Therefore Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing has very good regulating effects on the mental health of old people.
From the perspective of traditional Qigong theories, the mechanism of the mental effects of Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing can be summarized into the following three aspects: First, the essence of Health Qigong is the comprehensive exercise and regulation on the form, Qi, and spirit of the human body. Ancient people considered the spirit and flesh as one entity and used it to study the life activities of man. They believed that man was a living organism to which the form, Qi, and spirit were integrated. Huai Nan Tzu: Yuan Dao Xun says: “The form is the container of life; Qi is the filling material for life; and spirit is the controller of life. Once any of them is out of place, all of them will be harmed. Therefore wise people would keep them in place and make them do their respective jobs without interfering with each other. If form is placed where it does not belong, it will be paralyzed; if Qi is used to fill places it does not fit, it will be leaked; if spirit is guided where it is not suitable, it will be confused. There three factors have to be taken care of. “Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing lays emphasis on the application of mind throughout the entire process. In other words, the exerciser needs to relax the spirit, coordinate the form with the thought, concentrate the spirit in the body, and move Qi with the body. During the practice, attention should be paid to the coordination between Daoyin and spirit regulation in order to concentrate the spirit in the body, move Qi with the body, and unite the form and spirit. Secondly, the mutual effects between form, Qi, and spirit could be utilized. Through Daoyin of movements, Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing stretches the bones, pulls the tendons and channels, promotes the circulation of blood and Qi, activate Qi in the viscera and channels, and therefore improve the spirit and emotion. This is exactly what we say “harmonized Qi will naturally lead to good emotions”. Thirdly, specific movements of Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing have regulating effects on spirit. For example, in the first routine of “Wei Tuo Presenting the Pestle”, both palms are closed in front of the chest to calm Qi and gather the spirit [6].In the ninth routine of “Black Dragon Displaying Its Claws”, the turn-back, left and right claw-displaying, and forward-bending movements of the body will tighten, relax, open, and close the upper parts of both sides of the body and thus soothe the liver, regulate the flow of Qi, and light the emotion [7].
According to the practice of this exercise, spending more time on Section 1 and Section 9 of the exercise will provide good effects for exercisers in bad moods.
References
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[2] Li Guilan, Wei Shujing. An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Mental Health Levels of Retired People [J]. Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medical Science,2004,13（3）:335-336.
[3] Wang Xiaohe, Fan Yafeng. An Analysis of the Physical and Mental Health of and Health Care Strategies of Old People [J]. Soft Science of Health, 2004,18（4）: 198-200.
[4] Health Qigong Administration Center of General Administration of Sports of China. Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing [M]. Beijing: People’s Sports Publishing House, 2003.
[5] Zhang Mingyuan. A Handbook of Rating Scales for the Psychiatry Department [M]. Changsha: Hunan Science and Technology Press, 1998,17-27.
[6] Health Qigong Administration Center of General Administration of Sports of China. Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing [M]. Beijing: People’s Sports Publishing House, 2003: 29.
[7] Health Qigong Administration Center of General Administration of Sports of China. Health Qigong·Yi Jin Jing [M]. Beijing: People’s Sports Publishing House, 2003:69