In their study, Shu-Yuan Chao, Hsiao-Mei Chen and Bei-Yi Su investigate the potential effects of shadow puppetry therapy on cognitive function, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships among older adults with mild dementia. The study was conducted in central Taiwan with 33 older adults (average age of 74.5 years) recruited from dementia care centers. Participants were divided into two groups: 15 in the experimental group and 18 in the control group. The experimental group of older adults followed a 16-week-long shadow puppetry therapy programme, while the control group engaged during the same time in regular activities. The results show a significant improvement in cognitive functioning, self-esteem and interpersonal relationships among the participants who followed the program. In contrast, no significant changes were observed among the participants in the control group. The authors conclude that shadow puppetry therapy is a novel and practical non-pharmacological approach to effectively enhance cognitive function, self-esteem and interpersonal relationships in older adults with mild dementia. For future research, they suggest exploring the adaptability of shadow puppetry therapy across diverse cultural contexts to learn if this art therapeutic intervention has broader applicability, and suggest examining additional potential outcomes, such as the quality of life, emotional stability, and caregiver burden for a more comprehensive understanding of shadow puppetry therapy benefits.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556524003139