2026 Theses Doctoral

Somatic Mindfulness Physical Activity as Potential Treatment for Adult Latina Women with Depression: A Focus on the Thermoregulatory Process

Amador, Anamaria

Exercise or physical activity can produce positive changes in depressive symptoms through an effective thermoregulatory cooling mechanism. Latina immigrant women living in New Jersey are especially prone to suffer from depression. Holistic movement practices and the therapeutic use of somatic mindfulness physical activity have been bringing positive results to those with depressive disorders.

As a mixed methods design, this study aims to answer both the question of how somatic mindfulness physical activity improves depressive symptoms while regulating core body temperature in Latina immigrant women and the question, how this somatic experience is embodied by the participants through participatory arts-based activities and related to depressive symptoms?

Our first hypothesis is that somatic mindfulness physical activity can generate a thermoregulatory cooling effect in the participants and, in turn, bring therapeutic benefits for depressive symptoms. Our second hypothesis is that this somatic experience is embodied as a therapeutic experience that generates a sense of empowerment and wellness.