Evaluating the Effects of Online Group Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy on Physical Activity and Whole-Person Health in Older Adults

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY By 2050, 23% of the U.S. population will be aged 65 or older, leading to an increase in chronic diseases and significant burdens on healthcare systems. Physical activity (PA) is essential for preserving whole-person health including physical and cognitive function, independent living, and quality of life in older adults. However, PA tends to decline with age, and currently, about 30% of older adults in the U.S. are physically inactive. Given the protective effects of PA against age-related decline and numerous chronic conditions, developing effective interventions to promote PA in this population is imperative. This project proposes to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative online Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy (M-DMT) intervention in promoting PA and overall well-being in sedentary older adults. M-DMT integrates mindfulness and dance/movement therapy, fostering holistic health by combining physical activity with mindful awareness and creative expression. Unlike standard PA interventions, M-DMT encourages autonomous engagement in movements that align with participants’ physical and emotional states, enhancing intrinsic motivation and enjoyment. The intervention also leverages group therapy to promote social support and positive emotional states, further enhancing its effectiveness. Our proposal will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) using a mixed methods approach to compare online M-DMT with the Stony Brook Health Education Program (HEP). Quantitative data will measure PA levels and whole-person health outcomes, while qualitative data will explore participants' perceptions of the intervention’s impact and underlying mechanisms. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Our primary aim is to test the efficacy of online M-DMT on PA in sedentary older adults relative to the HEP control. We expect that M-DMT will be associated with greater increase in PA as measured by self-report and accelerometry at post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Our second aim will test the effects of online M-DMT versus HEP on multiple dimensions of whole-person health including cognitive, physical, emotional, and social domains, consistent with the NIH whole-person health framework. We expect that M-DMT participants will exhibit greater improvements in these outcomes than those in HEP. Our third aim is exploratory and will examine the changes in mechanisms hypothesized to drive intervention effects, including increases in self-efficacy for PA, intrinsic motivation, mindful awareness, and perceived social support. We expect that changes in these mechanisms will lead to greater increase in PA. This project is significant, innovative, and timely, representing the first application of a remote mind-body and creative arts-based intervention specifically designed to enhance PA and whole-person health among older adults. The study will provide critical evidence for a low-cost, accessible, and scalable PA intervention that can be integrated into home and clinical settings, facilitating large- scale dissemination and further testing.