The Effect of Tai Chi on quality of life in seniors

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the effect of Tai Chi exercise on the quality of life of seniors from a demographic perspective.  Methods: The SF-36 Quality of Life Scale questionnaire was administered to 224 seniors in Wuhan, divided into an experimental group (n = 134, seniors who had participated in Tai Chi exercise for three years or more) and a control group (n = 90, seniors who had not received Tai Chi exercise). An independent samples t-test, one-way Analysis of Variance ANOVA, and dummy regression analysis are conducted using multivariate statistics.  Results: (1) The quality of life scores for seniors who participated in Tai Chi exercise were significantly different from those who did not (p < 0.01), mainly in the dimensions of Physical Functioning , Social Functioning , General Health , Vitality, and Health Transition; (2) The quality of life scores of the Tai Chi exercise group differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the genders, with women being higher than men, but not between the age groups, residence patterns and pre-retirement occupations (p > 0.05); (3) Highly significant differences in quality of life scores between the 61-90 minutes Tai Chi group and the <60 minutes and >90 minutes Tai Chi groups (F = 5.43, p < 0.01); (4) There was a highly significant difference in quality of life scores between the Tai Chi group exercising 5-6 times a week or every day and the Tai Chi group exercising less than 4 times a week (F = 5.28, p < 0.01), but not between the group exercising 5-6 times a week Tai Chi and the group exercising every day Tai Chi (t = -1.403, p > 0.05). Conclusion: Practicing Tai Chi Chuan can improve the quality of life of seniors, but the effect is influenced by gender and the length and frequency of exercise.