Walking Habits in Elderly Widows

Abstract

Walking habits were studied in 3 groups of elderly widows. The average walking time per week was calculated from interviews or questionnaires. There was in a small studied group a tendency for walking time to be lower at 3 and 12 months after loss than at 4 or 5 years. An increased odds ratio was demonstrated in larger groups of widows for walking less than 120 minutes per week in those who "did not feel healthy," or who had "musculoskeletal health problems," or "cardiovascular health problems." Widows from a population-based study also showed increased odds ratio for not walking as long with "lack of friends" and "not being active in associations." This was not found in married women from the population study. Our results indicate that newly bereaved women may reduce their physical activity, and that the change in exercise habits may be associated with reduced perception of being healthy and a decreased social network.

Modes and locales of physical activity

“…It is also interesting to note that social activity approached significance in predicting physical activities. This finding agrees with work shows that people who are physically active are more likely to know their neighbors and have more social interactions (Frank, & Engelke, 2003), and with another study which found that having strong networks of friends and involvement in organizations is associated with PA (Grimby et al, 2008). Longitudinal studies will be required to articulate the relationship of social and physical activities.…”

“…Although social support for PA has long been studied, mostly in the context of children being supported by their parents (Sallis & Hovell, 1990), it appears that little research has been done on whether involvement in social activities are related to engaging in physical activity. One study has shown that widows who have few friends and are not members of associations are less likely to be walkers than those with healthy friendships and who are involved with organizations (Grimby, Johansson, Sundh & Grimby, 2008). This finding suggests that a subtle approach, encouraging social activity to improve physical activity, may be effective.…”

Anticipatory Grief Among Close Relatives of Patients in Hospice and Palliative Wards

“…The stress situation might also lead to decreased outdoor physical activity, which we have found in an earlier study among elderly widows. 10 Changes in the use of alcohol and medications were not estimated in our present study. However, this emotionally straining period, applying to never before used coping mechanisms and inner strength, might increase the consumption as the writers found in a sample of 1000 Swedish widows.…”

Physical activity to overcome the adversity of widowhood

“…[ 30 40 41 42 ] This is consistent with the literature that bereaved women were more likely to pick up drinking[ 32 34 ] and reduce their physical activity, [39] due in part to an isolated environment and reduced social network. [ 43 44 ] They required more psychoactive drugs to cope with depression. On the other hand, some risks of these widows may have been sustained concurrently with their spouses when they were alive, as “birds of a feather flock together.” In fact, some of these risks could have been associated with the death of their spouse.…”