31. Ogunleye, O. R., & Waziri, B. K. (2025)

The mental health of occupational women has become a critical concern, particularly in urban settings like the Federal Capital Territory, where work-related stress and societal expectations contribute to anxiety and depression. This study examines the effects of Callanetics exercises on the mental well-being of occupational women. A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group was employed, involving 100 participants divided into an experimental group and a control group. Mental health outcomes were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The results indicate a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms (F(1,97) = 37.31, p < .05, η² = 0.28), suggesting that callanetics accounted for 28% of the observed variance in anxiety symptoms. Similarly, depression symptoms significantly decreased in the experimental group (F(1,97) = 12.16, p < .05, η² = 0.11), confirming the positive impact of callanetics on emotional well-being. Also, the interaction effect between treatment and age was statistically significant, F(4, 89) = 2.65, p = .04, η² = .10, which suggests that the effect of treatments differs across age categories. These findings support the integration of callanetics exercises into mental health interventions for occupational women, particularly in high-stress environments. Given its accessibility, minimal equipment requirements, and focus on mindfulness, Callanetics presents a non-pharmacological approach to improving psychological well-being. The study highlights the need for workplace and community-based exercise programmes to enhance mental health outcomes among working women. Future research should explore long-term adherence and potential adaptations for different populations.
Keywords: Depression, Anxiety, Low-impact Exercise, Exercise Intervention and Stress