Helga Noice1, Tony Noice, Graham Staines. 1. Department of Psychology, Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126, USA. helgan@elmhurst.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the benefits of a short-term intervention for older adults that targeted cognitive functioning and quality of life issues important for independent living. METHOD: One hundred twenty-four community-dwelling participants (aged 60 to 86) took part in one of three study conditions: theater arts (primary intervention), visual arts (non-content-specific comparison group), and no-treatment controls. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of instruction, those given theater training made significantly greater gains than did no-treatment controls on both cognitive and psychological well-being measures. A comparison of theater and visual arts training showed fewer benefits in fewer areas for visual arts. DISCUSSION: The authors suggest reasons why various aspects of theater training appear to enhance healthy aging.
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the benefits of a short-term intervention for older adults that targeted cognitive functioning and quality of life issues important for independent living. METHOD: One hundred twenty-four community-dwelling participants (aged 60 to 86) took part in one of three study conditions: theater arts (primary intervention), visual arts (non-content-specific comparison group), and no-treatment controls. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of instruction, those given theater training made significantly greater gains than did no-treatment controls on both cognitive and psychological well-being measures. A comparison of theater and visual arts training showed fewer benefits in fewer areas for visual arts. DISCUSSION: The authors suggest reasons why various aspects of theater training appear to enhance healthy aging.
Authors: David E Vance; Jaspreet Kaur; Pariya L Fazeli; Michele H Talley; Hon K Yuen; Beth Kitchin; Feng Lin Journal: J Neurosci Nurs Date: 2012-08 Impact factor: 1.230
Authors: Denise C Park; Jennifer Lodi-Smith; Linda Drew; Sara Haber; Andrew Hebrank; Gérard N Bischof; Whitley Aamodt Journal: Psychol Sci Date: 2013-11-08