The effects of physical activity on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in elderly people living in the community

Abstract

Introduction: Health problems may negatively affect the psychological and physical aspects of life, influencing the quality of life of older adults. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of physical activity on quality of life, anxiety, and depression in the elderly population. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 200 elderly people of both genders. Subjects were divided into two groups: one with 100 senior citizens engaged in physical activities in a social center for the elderly; and another composed of 100 subjects who lived in the community but were not engaged in physical activities. The instruments used to assess physical activities, quality of life, and anxiety and depression were, respectively: the modified Baecke questionnaire; the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36); and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The data were analyzed using the Student's t test, Pearson's r, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), with odds ratio and a 5% significance level (p<0.05). Results: We observed that the active group showed higher scores of physical activity and quality of life. Conversely, the sedentary group revealed higher scores of anxiety and depression. Data assessment revealed a strong correlation between the domains quality of life, level of vitality, and mental health (r=0.77). The prevalence ratio showed that physical activity is a protective factor against anxiety and depression in the elderly. Conclusion: The findings suggest a correlation between low levels of physical activity and symptoms of anxiety and depression in the elderly living in the community.

<p>Examination of the Correlation Between Physical and Psychological Measures in Community-Dwelling Older Adults</p>

“…37 A correlation between GAS and GDS was expected as these disorders often co-exist. [38][39][40][41] Our data also show that symptoms of depression and anxiety were predictive of each other (β = 0.620 and 0.621, respectively), with 6-month fall history being an additional predictor of anxiety (β = 0.146).…”

The Effectiveness of the Intervention Depression in the Elderly: A Systematic Review

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Effect of physical activity on mental health and cognitive functions

“…na grupie 200 starszych osób obydwu płci ujawniło, że systematyczne uprawianie aktywności fizycznej sprzyja niskiemu poziomowi lęku i depresji w tej grupie wiekowej. Aktywność fizyczna wraz z prowadzeniem ogólnie aktywnego stylu życia w postaci uczestnictwa w zajęciach kulturalnych, tanecznych, warsztatach rzemieślniczych powodowała zwiększenie poczucia własnej wartości, wspierała rozwój psychospołeczny i pomagała przywrócić równowagę emocjonalną [43]. Sertel i wsp.…”