Dr.Sc.Psych., Professor O.A. Ovsianik^{1, 2}
PhD, Professor A.N. Fominova³
PhD, Associate Professor M.N. Mikhailovskiy⁴
PhD, Associate Professor R.S. Khammatova^4
1Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow
²Moscow State Regional University, Moscow
³Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow
⁴I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow

Keywords: adaptation, physical activity, women’s second adulthood, divorce.

Background. “Second adulthood” means herein the senior age period of 40 to 60 years which leads in the divorce statistics [1]. These divorces are explained by the transitional period when the children have grown up and the senior married couple realises that they are no more connected and important for one another [5, 6]. The feel of “empty nest” forces the women look for self-fulfilment options [3] to offset the frustration by the past life [7]. This age period is further burdened by the age-specific physiological transformations associated with the growth of different somatic diseases including climacteric syndrome, particularly its pathological form that may last for up to 7 years being associated with serious discomfort for the women. It is known that the physiological discomfort associated with the climacteric syndrome positively correlates with the emotional comfort (r=0.55) and adaptation (r=0.67) [2]. The 40-60 year old women being increasingly reluctant to specific physical activity explaining the reluctance by being too busy and/or “physically unfit” further aggravate these problems. As a result, the women face high post-divorce emotional stresses with the increased range of social roles, growing physical inactivity burdened by a variety of somatic diseases – and often with overweight. It should be emphasised that this age period is highly demanding to the women’s ability to cope with hard life situations mobilising the best of their individual qualities. These individual qualities include the most valuable components of the psycho-physiological, socio-psychological and personal-values-related individual mentality mobilised as an integrated complex to successfully cope with stress situations, effectively control negative mental conditions and improve the life quality [4].

Objective of the study was to experimentally prove the efficiency of applied physical training methods for the socio-psychological adaptation of senior women (second adulthood) in their post-divorce period.

Methods and structure of the study. Subject to the experiment were 135 women of 42-54 years of age facing difficult life situations as a result of divorce. The subjects were split up into Experimental Group 1 (n=47) trained in a gym 3 times a week for 50 days; Study Group 2 (n=43) doing yoga 3 times a week for 45 days; and untrained (physically inactive) Reference Group (n=45). The subjects’ adaptation progress was rated by the K. Rodgers and R. Diamond Adaptation Questionnaire, with the meaning of the intergroup differences computed using the Student’s t-criterion. The individualised trainer-assisted physical training program in the gym was customised to the somatic diseases of the trainees. The yoga course was designed as required by the standard program non-customised to the individual somatic diseases albeit individualised with respect to the trainees’ physical fitness.

Study results and discussion. Trainees of the Experimental Groups were all diagnosed with climacteric syndrome as a result of the post-divorce acute stress situations. Indications of the syndrome were less expressed (to the extent of only 51.1%) in the Reference Group subjects. In the period of the training experiment, subjective discomfort associated with the climacteric syndrome was reported by 38.3% of the EG-1 and 44.2% of EG-2. The post-experimental interviews showed that the trainees became calmer, more self-confident, accepting the new conditions and more effective in their own life planning. The pre-experimental tests by the K. Rodgers and R. Diamond Adaptation Questionnaire did not show any significant intergroup differences in the sample: see Table 1.

Table 1. Subjects’ adaptation rates prior to the experimental training courses

After the experimental training courses, no intergroup difference was found on the Internality scale: see Table 2.

Table 2. Subjects’ adaptation rates after the experimental training courses

Note: p means the EG versus RG data difference significance rate.

EG-2 (yoga group) showed significant intergroup differences on the Adaptation, Self-acceptance, Others-acceptance and Emotional Comfort scales. This finding may be interpreted as indicative of the subjects’ adaptation and readiness to changes in their lives. They were found prepared to life challenges and emotionally comfortable, with this new mindset being of positive effect on their somatic conditions. EG-1 (trained in the gym) showed significant intergroup differences on the Proneness to Domination and Adaptation scales with the trainees found prepared for changes in their lives and accepting their challenging life situation. In contrast to EG-2, EG-1 was found striving both to active adaptation and keeping control of the situation and people involved. EG-1 showed progress on the Self-acceptance, Others-acceptance and Emotional Comfort scales albeit the intergroup differences were found insignificant. This may mean that the transformations made the EG-1 subjects feel some discomfort and, therefore, adaptation in this group went slower that may be due to the choice of the psychological correction strategy by the physical training method being not fully successful in fact. The intergroup differences give the means both to rate the psychological transformations as a result of the special physical training courses and demonstrate the efficiency of the group sessions for the post-divorce adaptation process.

The post-divorce socio-psychological adaptation of the senior women by the special physical training courses showed benefits of the training models as verified by their progress in the somatic conditions and adaptation rates. After the training courses, the subjects were tested calmer, more balanced, self-confident and better capable of planning their lives and careers.

It may be pertinent to mention that the psycho-physiological level refers to the conditions a person is vulnerable to in specific age periods. Such mental conditions may evolve to stable personality qualities and result in the non-adaptive behavioural models becoming habitual. Our study data and analyses demonstrated that the special physical training courses in socially comfortable groups with a special emphasis on the positive changes in the training process helped harmonise the behavioural models and self-attitudes with a quite stable progress in the personality qualities.

Conclusion. The physical training courses were found to improve the general mood with good progress in attitudes to own self and surrounding people, well-being and positive life expectations.

References

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Corresponding author: ovsianik@mail.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to rate benefits of applied physical training methods for the post-divorce social and psychological adaptation of senior women in their “second adulthood”. Subject to the experiment were 42-54 year old women (n=135) facing difficult life situations as a result of divorce. The subjects were split up into the following three groups: Experimental Group 1 (EG-1) trained in a gym; Experimental Group 2 (SG-2) doing yoga; and untrained (physically inactive) Reference Group (RG). The subjects’ adaptation progress was rated by the K. Rodgers and R. Diamond Adaptation Questionnaire. The study demonstrated benefits of the physical training practices, with the yoga practices found to improve the social and mental conditions on the Self Acceptance, Others Acceptance and Emotional Comfort scales. EG-1 (trained in the gym) showed progress in adaptation on the Proneness to Domination and Adaptation scales. The tested progress was substantiated by the individual reports of the subjects who reported improvements in the overall mood, progress in self- and others-acceptance, better feel and belief in changes for the better in the private life as a result of the physical trainings.