Faculty Mentor: Akiko Kamimura (Sociology, University of Utah)

Introduction

Exercise has been linked to many health benefits, both mental and physical. It has also been recommended for those who struggle with managing stress, anxiety and depression. People experiencing homelessness deal with stressors extensively compared to the general population.

People experiencing homelessness are more vulnerable to mental health illnesses and lack significant resources to get the help they need. About 80% of the homeless population struggle with some kind of mental illness (diagnosed and undiagnosed) (Cassidy, 2024). Exercise and meditations, such as Tai Chi, are easy and accessible and have shown promising results in other vulnerable populations and may be effective in this population.

Tai Chi is an ancient meditation martial arts practice that originated in China. Many systemic studies have concluded a positive association between people struggling with mental and physical illnesses and a decrease in such levels. Some of the benefits include, benefit for depression, dementia, and improving cognitive capacity in older adults (Huston, 2016).

This study aims to explore whether physical activity, tracked via fitness trackers, is associated with improved well-being in individuals experiencing homelessness.

We expect to observe positive trends in heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep score that would indicate that there is increased well-being in those that participate in consistent physical activity.

Methods

This study involved a sample of participants (n=4) experiencing homelessness recruited through a local Tai Chi program. Researchers attended the program four times per week over a two-week period. Each participant was provided with a wearable fitness tracker and instructed to download the corresponding mobile app. The tracker monitored daily heart rate, sleep score, blood pressure, step counts, and blood oxygen levels.

Researchers accessed data via the app for analysis (Table 1). Due to a brief timeline of data collection, statistical analysis was not feasible. Predicted trends were generated from initial observations. All participation in the study was voluntary and anonymized to protect participant privacy.

Results

Data was collected from 4 participants over a two-week period. Data included metrics like heart rate, blood pressure, sleep score, and step counts. Participants were engaged through a Tai Chi program serving those experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake City, Utah. Early observations of these metrics could indicate improved well-being in the population.

Due to limited data collection, we are unable to provide a statistical analysis. However, existing literature (Figure 2), indicates improvement in stress levels within a defined population. As data collection continues within our project, we project to see similar outcomes within those who are experiencing homelessness.

Conclusions

The preliminary findings suggest that incorporating physical activity programs for this population can translate to improved well-being. We plan to continue our study with an extended timeline for increased data collection and with a broader participant sample. We will do this to better understand the impact of physical activity on those who are experiencing homelessness. With our findings, we hope to see improvement in the rehabilitation of individuals experiencing homelessness. This can be done through funding programs that increase access to exercise for the population, which can have a significant impact not only on the individual, but the structure as a whole.

Bibliography

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Huston, Patricia, and Bruce McFarlane. “Health Benefits of Tai Chi: What Is the Evidence?” Canadian Family Physician Medecin de Famille Canadien, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2016, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9844554/#:~:text=Excellent%20evidence%20of%20be
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Lerner, Shanti. “A Free Tai Chi Class for Utah’s Homeless Is Almost 10 Years Old. Here’s How the Program Is Helping.” FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU), FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU), 13 Nov. 2024, www.fox13now.com/news/positively-utah/a-free-tai-chi-class-for-utahs-
homeless-is-almost-10-years-old-heres-how-the-program-is-helping.

Sauer, Mary. “Tai Chi Benefits: Stress Reduction, Weight Loss, for Older Adults.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 27 Sept. 2024, www.healthline.com/health/tai-chi-benefits.

Utah Stories. “Tai Chi and Transformation: Bernie Hart’s Bold Solution to Utah’s Homelessness Crisis.” Utah Stories, 29 Jan. 2025, utahstories.com/2025/01/tai-chi-and-transformation-bernie-harts-bold-solution-to-utahs-homelessness-crisis/.

Yang, Fei-Chi, et al. “Effectiveness of Tai Chi for Health Promotion of Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Meta-Analyses.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 24 Mar. 2021, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9644143/.