The Effect of Eight Weeks of Pilates Exercises on Self-Efficacy and Psychological Well-Being of Male Armed Forces Personnel with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Aims: Paying attention to physical activity and regular exercise in the military forces can control physical and mental disorders and thus maintain the health of personnel and increase efficiency. The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of Pilates exercises on self-efficacy and psychological well-being of armed forces personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Materials and Methods: The research was semi-experimental in a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. Based on the objective, ۴۰ armed forces personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder were selected purposefully and available in ۲۰۲۱ and were randomly divided into two groups of Pilates interventions and control (۲۰ people in each group). The experimental group performed Pilates exercises for eight weeks (۳ one-hour sessions per week), while the control group received no intervention. Sherer's (۱۹۸۲) standard self-efficacy and Ryff's (۱۹۸۹) psychological well-being questionnaires were used in both pre-and post-tests. The findings were analyzed through dependent and covariance t-tests. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS ۲۵ software, and a significance level ۰.۰۵ was considered. Findings: In this research, ۲۰ people in the experimental group with an average age of ۴۵.۱۱±۵.۳۷ and a history of suffering from ۲۶.۰±۵.۳ disorders, and ۲۰ people in the control group with an average age of ۴۳.۳۲±۵.۰۹ and a history of suffering from disorder ۲۳.۰±۹.۲ were participated. The results of the research showed that eight weeks of Pilates exercises significantly improved the scores of both self-efficacy (p=۰.۰۲) and psychological well-being (p=۰.۰۱) in the experimental group of armed forces personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusion: According to the results obtained regarding the effect of Pilates exercises on psychological well-being variables and self-efficacy, these exercises are suggested as a cost-effective, accessible, and practical program to improve the psychological factors of male personnel of the armed forces.

کلیدواژه ها:

Stress Disorders ، Post-Traumatic ، psychological well-being ، Self-Efficacy ، Pilates ، Military Personnel ، اختلال استرس پس از سانحه ، بهزیستی روان شناختی ، خودکارآمدی ، پیلاتس ، نیروهای نظامی