Perceived_stress_levels_in_older_adults _with_financial_strain_are_diminished_after _theater_practice.xlsx

<strong>Background:</strong> Participating in theater has been shown to be useful for reducing cognitive decline in older adults. This study focused on the social inclusion aspect of the performing arts and aimed to examine whether participation in the theater could help prevent dementia in older adults who are vulnerable to social exclusion. <strong>Methods:</strong> Our participants were 371 community-dwelling older adults who belonged to the Gold Arts Club organized by the Saitama Arts Theatre. The change in perceived stress levels after a month and a half of theater practice were compared between older adults with and without financial strain. <strong>Results:</strong> It was revealed that older adults with financial strain had a significantly greater reduction in perceived stress levels than those without financial strain after a month and a half of theater practice. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Since stress is one of the risk factors for cognitive decline, the results of this study suggest that participation in theater may be an effective way of reducing cognitive decline associated with dementia in the elderly who feel strained financially. <br> <br> <strong>Method</strong> Our participants were community-dwelling older adults who belonged to the Gold Arts Club organized by the Saitama Arts Theatre (https://www.saf.or.jp/arthall/). The Gold Arts Club performed one play each year between 2016 and 2018 after a month or two of rehearsals. Each member had participated in at least one performance at the time of this study. <strong>Financial Strain:</strong> Participants chose one of the following options to describe their financial situation: 1 = difficult, 2 = slightly difficult, 3 = somewhat secure, and 4 = secure. Those who chose 1 or 2 were categorized into the group with financial strain, while those who chose 3 or 4 were categorized into the group without financial strain. This question was asked only during the pre-survey. <strong>Stress Levels:</strong> The stress levels were assessed using the Comprehensive Stress Response Inventory for the elderly (http://labo-wakashima.c.ooco.jp/CSI_elder.pdf), a scale that assesses stress levels through the extent of psychological stress response experienced in the preceding month. The answers to the 17 questions were summed to calculate a perceived stress score. A Likert scale ranging from 1 to 4 (1 = “never” to 4 = “very often”) was used. These questions were asked both in the pre-and post-surveys. We subtracted the pre-survey score from the post-survey score to measure the change in stress levels before and after participating in the theater practice.