본 연구는 갱년기 여성의 특성에 적합한 아쿠아로빅스 운동을 개발하고 적용하여 갱년기 여성의 삶의 질, 우울, 체력, 혈청 지질대사에 미치는 효과를 알아보고자 시도되었다. 연구대상자는 45세-65세의 갱년기 증상을 호소하는 여성 30명이었으며, 실험 중재로 아쿠아로빅스 운동을 주 2회, 8주 간 실시하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS Win 17.0을 이용하여 분석하였다. 연구결과로 아쿠아로빅스 운동에 참여한 대상자는 갱년기 관련 삶의 질이 증가하고, 우울감이 감소하였으며, 유연성과 근지구력이 향상되었다. 또한 총콜레스테롤과 LDL 콜레스테롤이 감소하였다. 이상의 결과를 근거로 아쿠아로빅스 운동은 갱년기 여성의 삶의 질 개선과 우울 완화, 체력 향상, 혈청 지질대사의 긍정적 변화에 도움이 될 수 있을 것으로 기대하며, 갱년기 여성의 건강관리를 위한 지지적이며 보완적 중재로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an eight-week aqua aerobics exercise on menopause-specific quality of life, depression, physical fitness and blood lipid levels among climacteric women. In this study, a quasi-experimental research design with one group pretest-posttest design was carried out. The sample consisted of 33 subjects from Busan Metropolitan City, Korea, who did not engage in regular aerobic exercise. They were 45~65 years of age, and were willing to participate in this study. The aqua aerobics exercise program lasted one hour twice a week for eight weeks. The data was collected from August 19 to October 16, 2008. The data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, and paired t-test using SPSS Win 17.0. Menopause-specific quality of life and depression scores significantly decreased, trunk flexibility and muscle endurance significantly increased, and levels of the total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol significantly decreased after the aqua aerobics exercise. The aqua aerobics exercise is recommended as an effective form of intervention that could help promote physical, physiological and psycho-social health among climacteric women.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an eight-week aqua aerobics exercise on menopause-specific quality of life, depression, physical fitness and blood lipid levels among climacteric women. In this study, a quasi-experimental research design with one group pretest-posttest design was carried out. The sample consisted of 33 subjects from Busan Metropolitan City, Korea, who did not engage in regular aerobic exercise. They were 45~65 years of age, and were willing to participate in this study. The aqua aerobics exercise program lasted one hour twice a week for eight weeks. The data was collected from August 19 to October 16, 2008. The data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, and paired t-test using SPSS Win 17.0. Menopause-specific quality of life and depression scores significantly decreased, trunk flexibility and muscle endurance significantly increased, and levels of the total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol significantly decreased after the aqua aerobics exercise. The aqua aerobics exercise is recommended as an effective form of intervention that could help promote physical, physiological and psycho-social health among climacteric women.

climacteric, aquarobics exercise, quality of life, depression,physical fitness