COMPARISON OF LINE DANCE AND SENAM LANSIA ON EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: The aging population worldwide has increased interest in interventions that can preserve cognitive function, particularly executive function, among older adults. In Indonesia, senam lansia is an accessible form of aerobic exercise for the elderly, while line dance has gained popularity as a more engaging alternative that may offer long-term engagement. However, their comparative effects on executive function remain understudied. Objective: This study compares the effects of senam lansia and line dance on executive function in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-randomized, pre- and post-test-controlled design was conducted involving 36 older adults. Participants were assigned to line dance or senam lansia groups, each completing 3 times 60-minute sessions for six weeks. Executive function was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Stroop Test and Trail Making Test B (TMT-B). Baseline demographic characteristics were compared to identify group differences. Results: The line dance group was younger (64.90 ± 5.45 vs. 68.75 ± 4.99 years) and entirely female, while the senam lansia group included 25% men; adjusting for sex did not alter the cognitive outcomes. Stroop and TMT‑B scores showed no meaningful pre–post changes in either group, and intergroup comparisons were nonsignificant. Effect sizes were negligible for Stroop test, with intragroup effects were d = 0.00 (senam lansia) and d = –0.33 (line dance), with a small intergroup effect (d = –0.38). TMT‑B showed similar pattern, with intragroup effects (≈0.26–0.27) and a very small between‑group difference (pooled d ≈ 0.76). Conclusion: Short-term participation in senam lansia and line dance did not produce statistically or clinically significant improvements in executive function.