اثربخشی تمرین پیلاتس بر سرمایۀ روان‌شناختی و تن‌انگاره زنان سالمند

Background: Aging is a critical developmental stage in which attention to mental health dimensions becomes increasingly important. Evidence suggests that older adults can improve their physical functioning and psychological adaptation through structured exercise programs. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an eight-week Pilates training program on psychological capital and body image among older women in Dezful.
Method: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included older women in Dezful in 2024. The sample consisted of 30 women aged 65–75 years who were selected through convenience sampling based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in eight weekly 90-minute Pilates sessions. Data were collected using Luthans’ Psychological Capital Questionnaire and Marsh’s Physical Self-Description Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with SPSS version 22.
Results: After controlling for pretest scores, a significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups at posttest in psychological capital and body image (p<.001).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that eight weeks of Pilates training significantly improved psychological capital and body image among older women. These results suggest that Pilates may serve as a complementary intervention to promote psychological resources and positive body perception in later life.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT
 Introduction
Aging is a universal and inevitable biological process characterized by progressive physiological and psychological changes that affect most bodily systems. These changes may influence individuals’ psychological resources and self-perceptions. Psychological capital, as a positive psychological resource, plays an important role in individuals’ ability to cope with stressful life events. In addition, body image may undergo changes in later life, and dissatisfaction with one’s body can negatively affect well-being. In recent years, various interventions have been implemented to enhance psychological capital and improve body image among older adults. Among these approaches, Pilates training has received increasing attention due to its combined physical and mental benefits. However, limited research has examined the effectiveness of Pilates exercises on psychological capital and body image in older women. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of a selected Pilates training program on these variables. Accordingly, the hypotheses of this study were: (1) Pilates training has a significant effect on psychological capital in older women, and (2) Pilates training has a significant effect on body image in older women.
Method
This was a quasi-experimental study, employing a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all women aged 65 to 75 years in Dezful during the second half of 2024, among whom 30 women who met the inclusion criteria were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned in equal numbers to the experimental and control groups. Inclusion criteria consisted of (1) scoring below the mean on the Psychological Capital Questionnaire and the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire, (2) being over 65 years of age, and (3) having at least a middle school diploma. Exclusion criteria included (1) participation in concurrent therapeutic interventions and (2) suffering from severe cognitive disorders. Data collection instruments included Marsh’s Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (1996) and Luthans’ Psychological Capital Questionnaire (2007). The selected Pilates exercises were adapted from the training protocol of Miranda et al. (2018) and implemented by the researcher in the form of eight weekly 90-minute sessions for the experimental group. Each session included an introduction to the objectives and topics, discussion, and in-session exercises. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with SPSS software version 23.
Results
Given the design of this study, univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the main results. To examine the homogeneity of variances between the two groups in the posttest stage, Levene’s test was conducted. The results of Levene’s test for psychological capital and body image were not statistically significant, thus confirming the assumption of homogeneity of variances. Furthermore, the critical assumption of ANCOVA, homogeneity of regression slopes, was tested by examining the interaction effect of the independent variable and the pretest of each dependent variable on its posttest. The results indicated that the F values were not significant at the 0.05 level for psychological capital and body image. In addition, the Shapiro–Wilk test was used to assess the normal distribution of the dependent variables. The results showed that the distribution was normal, as the obtained W values were not significant at the .05 level. Since the assumptions of ANCOVA were met, univariate analysis of covariance was applied to examine the effectiveness of the intervention on the overall scores of psychological capital and body image. The results are presented in Table 1.
The findings indicated that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of psychological capital and body image. In other words, Pilates training, considering the mean scores of psychological capital and body image in the experimental group compared to the control group, led to a significant improvement in both variables.
Conclusion
The nature of Pilates exercises comprises a set of aerobic activities performed with diverse movements and a highly motivational atmosphere. The rhythmic nature of the exercises and the interactions involved extend their effectiveness beyond purely physical domains, incorporating aesthetic dimensions that can positively influence various aspects of mental health, including autonomy, personal growth, positive relationships with others, and self-acceptance. The combination of relaxation movements, stretching, muscle contractions, and breathing techniques enhances cerebral blood flow, thereby improving oxygen supply and nourishment to neurons, which in turn strengthens mental and psychological capacities in older adults. Since this study was conducted on older women in Dezful, caution should be exercised when generalizing the results to other populations. It is recommended that similar studies be conducted in other cities and the findings compared. Based on the results of this and other studies, policymakers and planners are encouraged to design comprehensive and practical programs to enhance psychological capital and positive body image in older adults, implemented by experienced and specialized therapists. Furthermore, Pilates exercises, as an effective and practical intervention program, can be specifically incorporated into rehabilitation programs for older adults.
Ethical Consideration
Ethical Code
This article is derived from the master’s thesis of the first author in the field of personality psychology at Islamic Azad University, Dezful Branch
Financial Support
This study did not receive financial support.
Authors’ Contributions
SH.K: Conceptualization, methodology, data curation, software, formal analysis, writing - original draft; A.B: Conceptualization, methodology, validation, writing - review & editing, supervision; H.H.R: Conceptualization, methodology writing - review & editing, supervision
Conflict of Interest
The author had no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgments
The authors express their gratitude to all participants of this study.
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