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| Id: | 63 |
| Author: | Ljerka Tonkovic |
| Title: | Movement and dance as an aid to the developmental process of elderly female war victims |
| Award: | MA, specialization |
| Discipline: | Dramatherapy, DMT |
| Keyword: | DMT, limbering up exercises, relaxation, creative communication, co-operative games, dances in the circle |
| University_College: | University of LjubljanaFaculty of Education |
| Country: | Croatia |
| Year: | 2002 |
| Language: | Croatian |
| Abstract: | This MA work explores the effects of the systematic movement and dance therapy on elderly people who suffered protracted traumatic stress in the course of Croatian War of Independence. Many have experienced severe traumas as a consequence of their life being in danger and due to their exile and loss of close family members. The stress caused by the war events exceeded the common adaptation capacities of elderly people. In consequence they suffer from psycho-somatic, emotional, mental and social disorders. As a result, the population of elderly people in Croatia at the beginning of the 21 century apart from common requirements necessary for maintaining the quality of life of elderly people also require help in alleviating the consequences of post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD). Freedom of body movement is a prerequisite for growth, development and creativity of a person as a whole. Therefore my hypothesis in this research was that by using movement and dance with elderly people traumatized by war experiences the following goals would be achieved: - strengthen personal potentials; - decrease overwhelming emotions resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder; - influence prevention of diseases, better maintenance of good health and improvement of health and the quality of life in general; - encourage creative communication within the group and participants daily life. The group consisted of 14 women age 60 – 75. Seven women had traumatizing experiences and the remaining seven have not experienced personal or material losses nor the loss of family members. Based on the results of this research I arrived at a conclusion that movement and dance helped social interactions within the group and outside of it, enabled participants to work on themselves, their self-confidence and to deal creatively with every day challenges. The activities also offered elderly people opportunity to use their free time in a structured and qualitative way. |
| Email: | ljerka.tonkovic@os.htnet.hr |
| Date: | 8/20/2007 11:34:05 AM |