The Effects of a Tai Chi Training Program on Physical Fitness, Stress Response and Ego-resilience in Nursing Students

Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of Tai Chi training program on physical fitness, stress response and ego-resiliency in nursing students. Methods: 28 nursing students of D metropolitan city participated in non-equivalent control group pre- and post-test group test in quasi experimental design with written consent. Fourteen participants in the control group who did usual activities and 14 experimental participants who promised to participate 24 Tai Chi training sessions for 12 weeks. Both groups completed pre- and post-test measurement for physical fitness, a questionnaire regarding their stress response and ego-resiliency. Each 60-minute Tai Chi session was consisted of 5-minute warm up, 10-minute meditation, 40-minute Tai Chi, and 5-minute finishing exercise. Results: After 12 weeks, participants in the Tai Chi group reported significantly higher score in muscle endurance (t=3.77, p=.001), leg muscular strength (t=2.14, p=.042), and balance (t=2.12, p=.044) compared to the control group. The Tai Chi group recorded significantly lower score than the control group on stress response (t=2.75, p=.011). Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of Tai Chi for a reduction in stress response and promotion in physical fitness in nursing students. Applying Tai Chi training to nursing program will help nursing students to have better academic performance.

https://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO201707464564953.pdf

Keywords
Tai Chi; Nursing students; Physical fitness; Stress; Resilience