A BLACKBURN College student has been invited to present her research into the links between pole fitness and self-esteem at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Health Psychology Conference in Cardiff in September.
Nicole Brand, 21, who is studying applied psychology, said: "I chose to research into pole fitness because I've been doing pole fitness classes now for three years.
“From the first class, I was instantly hooked. I loved how relaxed and friendly the atmosphere was and how it was so accessible to someone who had never done any sport before.
“When I think back to the person who I was before I started classes, I hardly recognise myself. I feel that three years on, I am much more confident, positive, happier, creative, adventurous. I wanted to find out if anyone else had experienced this same shift in mental wellbeing like I had.
“My research showed an increase in mental wellbeing for new starters attending classes. This increase was explained in the interviews I conducted as a combination of the 'safe space' a pole fitness class provides, particularly for women, and the amount of social support between peers in classes really helped to raise people's sense of self-esteem."
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