Cultural empowerment: the space production and local identity effects of square dancing on middle-aged and elderly rehabilitation patients—based on a qualitative study of three square dancing communities in Chengdu, China

Abstract

ABSTRACT Square dancing can serve as both a fitness and entertainment element in the psychological rehabilitation of older people. It also has the effect of providing a space and local identity with social and cultural significance for the psychological rehabilitation of older people, thus supporting their psychological rehabilitation treatment. Using questionnaires and interviews based on the case study of three square dance communities in Chengdu, China. According to the findings of the study, square dance serves the purpose of reconstructing the collective life of local middle-aged and elderly people in rehabilitation. A sense of belonging and assisting psychological rehabilitation needs; and for middle-aged and elderly psychological rehabilitation people who immigrate, square dancing can help repair the social network broken by migration, and help middle-aged and elderly psychological rehabilitation people to establish a similar. The role of ‘hometown community’ restores their familiar village-style ‘acquaintance society’ and aids psychological restoration. Simultaneously, this study offers a unique research approach for investigating the beneficial psychological intervention provided to middle-aged and senior psychological rehabilitation patients in rehabilitation treatment.