Activity as a predictor of mental well-being among older adults

Abstract

This eight-year follow-up study examines the roles of physical and leisure activity as predictors of mental well-being among older adults born in 1904-1923. As part of the Evergreen project, 1224 (80%) persons aged 65-84 years were interviewed at baseline (1988), and 663 (90%) persons in the follow-up (1996). Mental well-being factors including depressive symptoms, anxiety, loneliness, self-rated mental vigour and meaning in life were constructed using factor analysis. The predictors of mental well-being included physical and leisure activity, mobility status and number of chronic illnesses. We used a path analysis model to examine the predictors of mental well-being. At baseline, low number of chronic illnesses, better mobility status and leisure activity were associated with mental well-being. Baseline mental well-being, better mobility status and younger age predicted mental well-being in the follow-up. Explanatory power of the path analysis model for the mental well-being factor at baseline was 19% and 35% in the follow-up. These findings suggest that mental well-being in later life is associated with activity, better health and mobility status, which should become targets for preventive measures.

The suitability of the WHOQOL–BREF for Canadian and Norwegian older adults

“…Older people in the Netherlands link activities to maintaining and improving health, accepting health decline, and adjusting one's activity and expectations to satisfactory QoL (Puts et al 2007). In a study of Finnish elders, being mobile and physically active enhanced leisure activity, as was the case with the lack of morbidity and being physically active (Lampinen et al 2006). Among German elders, work-related success and experience have also been found to predict intensity of voluntary social engagement such as hobby work (Bukov et al 2002).…”

Depression and Use of a Health Plan–Sponsored Physical Activity Program by Older Adults

“…The risk of lapse in Silver Sneakers attendance was 28%-55% (p<0.05) higher for depressed participants during months [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. For nondepressed Silver Sneakers participants, attendance of at least 2 visits/week during Year 1 was significantly associated with lower risk of depression in Year 2 (OR=0.54; 95%CI= 0.37, 0.79; p=0.002); a similar but statistically nonsignificant association was observed for previously depressed participants (OR=0.51; 95%CI=0.26, 1.02; p=0.06).…”

Occupational Performance Problems in 85-Year-Old Women and Men in Sweden

“…Research has shown positive effects of being engaged in occupation such as disease prevention (Law, Steinwender & Leclair, 1998) and good health (Häggblom-Kronlöf & Sonn, 2005;Lampinen, Heikkinen, Kauppinen, & Heikkinen, 2006). Increased participation in activities leads to perceived improvement in life conditions, especially among the elderly who are widowed, have functional impairments or little contact with their families (Silverstein & Parker, 2002).…”