Effectiveness of Physical Activity Program in Improving the Self-esteem of Female Elderly in Rural Areas

Abstract

This study is aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-esteem-enhancing physical activity programs for women in rural areas. The subjects are 20 women aged 80 or older at the B Senior Welfare Center located in Jeonlanam-do (ten experimental groups and ten control groups). The study was conducted ten times from 3 March 2021 to 26 May 2021. The self-esteem research tool was used to gather data. The data collected was analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistic 20.0 program. Preexamination of experimental and control groups was conducted with independent sample t-validation, and covariate analysis (ANOVA) with pre-score covariate was performed to identify the difference in mean between groups. Based on the results of the study; first, the physical activity program of the elderly in rural areas reflected the situations and desires of the participants and applied the program after consultation with experts. Second, the physical activity program of the elderly in rural areas is effective in "value, pride, ability, respect and satisfaction for oneself," a sub-region of self-esteem. The results of the study suggest that physical activity programs are also effective in mental health, a psychological area, for the successful aging and self-esteem of female senior citizens in rural areas. The study of the elderly women in rural areas desperately needs a socio-cultural approach to address the impact of traditional values and a feminist perspective.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Health‐Related Quality of Life (HINT‐Eight) in Middle‐Aged Korean Women

“…Physical activity refers to any movement of the body that result in a significant increase in energy expenditure through the contraction of skeletal muscles in everyday life; including regular exercise that demands energy consumption above a steady state [ 14 , 15 ]. It has been reported that a decrease in physical activity lowers the level of muscle strength and cardiopulmonary function, thereby increasing the incidence of metabolic syndrome and affecting the incidence of adult diseases such as hypertension and diabetes [ 16 ].…”