A cross-sectional study of factors associated with psychosocial wellbeing among older Tai Chi practitioners

Abstract

We examined whether longer term Tai Chi practice was associated with better subjective psychosocial wellbeing in healthy, older Tai Chi practitioners. This study used a cross-sectional design with volunteer response sampling to recruit participants through senior community Tai Chi centres, who met inclusion criteria including: (i) currently practicing Tai Chi; (ii) aged 65 years and above; (iii) in good general health; (iv) proficient in English; (v) living independently. Healthy, older Tai Chi practitioners (N = 76, mean age = 72.33, SD = 5.80) completed self-rated measures of psychosocial wellbeing including health-related quality of life (HRQoL), balance confidence, self-efficacy, subjective memory complaints, and loneliness. Preliminary comparison with normative older populations demonstrated that this sample of Tai Chi practitioners had better mean scores on mental health t(75)=7.99, p=<0.001, physical health t(75)=13.95 p=<0.001, self-efficacy t(74)=10.16 p=<0.001, balance confidence t(74) =39.29 p=<0.001, and subjective memory complaints t(74)=-9.80 p<0.001. Weak, negative associations were observed between longer Tai Chi practice, mental health F(5, 70)=2.914 p=.019 and emotional role F(5, 70)=2.834 p=.022. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated no evidence of a positive relationship between longer Tai Chi practice and HRQoL, balance confidence, self-efficacy, subjective memory complaints, or loneliness. Healthy older practitioners demonstrated significantly better psychosocial wellbeing compared to non-practitioner older adults. This signals that Tai Chi may protect older adults from psychosocial stressors and foster psychosocial wellbeing.