Effect of Qigong on Delaying Senility of Psychological Function

Objective: To study the effect of Qigong on delaying senility of psychological function.
Methods:
This study was made up of two parts: questionnaire investigation and experiments
1 SDS-scale, SAS-scale sleep quality questionnaires were applied to investigate 212 subjects. The subjects were divided into two group: Qigong group (120 elder subjects who had exercised Qigong for at least 2 years, with average education years 10.8±3.2 and average ages 65.1±4.9) and control group (90 elder healthy subjects who had never exercised Qigong, with average education years 11.3±3.3 and average ages 65.0±4.4).
2. Test of Motion stability, elimination and synchronous hearing were applied to 98 cases. Qigong group (55cases with average age 65.3±4.8 and average education years 10.8±2.3); control group (43 cases with average age 66.3±4.6 and average education years 11.6±2.5).
Results:
Scores of the Qigong group were significantly lower than the control group in SDS-scale and SAS-scale (T-test p<0.001). Sleep duration of the Qigong group was less than the control group, but significant difference was found. Scores of sleep quality of Qigong group were significantly lower than control group (T-test p<0.001).
In motion stability, elimination test and synchronous hearing test, all statistical values in Qigong group were lower than those of the control group, but without statistical significant difference.
Conclusion: Qigong has some effect on improving symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep quality and motion stability in the elder.