Supporting adult unpaid carers via an online dancing intervention

A feasibility/acceptability study

Bibliographic Data

ID19591762
AuthorsJoanna Horne (0000-0002-9613-2723, The Open University, corresponding author), Louisa Donald (University of Bedfordshire), Rosaria Gracia (The Open University), Nichola Kentzer (0000-0003-4646-5252, The Open University), Yannis Pappas (0000-0003-3087-860X, University of Bedfordshire), Michael Trott (0000-0001-5978-3407, Queen's University Belfast), Mike Trott, Jitka Všetečková (0000-0001-8802-9892, The Open University)
EditorsJulia Robinson (0000-0003-0719-3995)
Year2024
Volume4
Issue1
Pagese0002798
Publication date2024-01-19
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0002798
PMID38241209
OpenAlexW4391035630
LanguageEN
References cited42

Unpaid carers often experience poor mental and physical health linked to their caring role. Engagement in physical activity has been shown to alleviate these negative health outcomes, but it is harder for carers to find the time, energy and space to exercise. This qualitative study, based in the UK, explored the feasibility of an online, dance-based physical activity intervention with six female unpaid carers. Five themes resulted from the thematic analysis of the pre- and post-intervention interviews: Perceived physical health benefits of the intervention; Perceived mental health benefits of the intervention; Satisfactoriness of the dance classes; Impact of caring responsibilities on participation; and Suggestions for future classes. Further research is required to measure the effectiveness of the dance intervention in improving mental and physical wellbeing with larger samples including a wider mix of carers in terms of gender, age and health conditions of the care recipients, as well as international samples. Future research should also consider the barriers that some carers may face when accessing an online intervention, and alternative forms of exercise that may appeal to other groups of carers (e.g., male carers, older adult carers)

Dance · Mental health · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Nursing · Physical Activity and Health · Psychology · Gerontology

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