The importance of regular physical activity in the mental health of the older adults
Abstract
The present study had the general objective of evaluating the relationship between physical activity and mental health in older adults. For this, a cross-sectional survey was carried out with 35 older adults aged between 60 and 76 years old (65.31 ± 4.50). To assess the level of physical activity, the six-minute walk test (6MWT) was used, while mental health was measured using the geriatric depression scale (GDS). A comparison was made between the physically active and inactive groups (classified by the 6MWT) using the Student’s t-test for GDS scores. In addition, the Ancova test was performed to compare groups for mental health outcome (GDS). The results show us that the mean age of the individuals was 65.31 with a standard deviation of 4.50. Among the older adults, 12 were classified as physically active and 23 as inactive. However, the main finding of this study lies in the difference between the groups for the mental health outcome, since the physically active group had a mean GDS lower (Mean = 3.33) than the physically inactive group (Mean = 7.30), with statistical significance (p = 0.05). This is in line with the literature on the benefits of physical activity in preventing and reducing mental disorders. The study makes room for further studies, especially clinical and longitudinal trials, in order to better understand these real impacts of physical activity.
References
[1]Almeida, O. P., & Almeida, S. A. (1999). Short versions of the geriatric depression scale: a study of their validity for the diagnosis of a major depressive episode according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14(10), 858-865. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199910)14:10<858::AID-GPS35>3.0.CO;2-8
[2]Bethancourt, H. J., Rosenberg, D. E., Beatty, T., et al. (2014). Barriers to and Facilitators of Physical Activity Program Use Among Older Adults. Clinical Medicine & Research, 12(1–2), 10–20. https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2013.1171
[3]Bianchi, R., Laurent, E., Schonfeld, I. S., et al. (2018). Memory bias toward emotional information in burnout and depression. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(10–11), 1567–1575. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318765621
[4]Bosnes, I., Nordahl, H. M., Stordal, E., et al. (2019). Lifestyle predictors of successful aging: A 20-year prospective HUNT study. PLOS ONE, 14(7), e0219200. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219200
[5]Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (2007). The Bioecological Model of Human Development. Handbook of Child Psychology. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470147658.chpsy0114
[6]Chapman, S. B., Aslan, S., Spence, J. S., et al. (2013). Shorter term aerobic exercise improves brain, cognition, and cardiovascular fitness in aging. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 5(75), 75. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2013.00075
[7]Dishman, R. K., Nakamura, Y., Garcia, M. E., et al. (2000). Heart rate variability, trait anxiety, and perceived stress among physically fit men and women. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 37(2), 121-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8760(00)00085-4
[8]Dominski, F. H., Matias, T. S., Serafim, T. T., et al. (2020). Motivation to CrossFit training: a narrative review. Sport Sciences for Health, 16(2), 195-206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00619-5
[9]Dominski, F. H., Serafim, T. T., Siqueira, T. C., et al. (2020). Psychological variables of CrossFit participants: a systematic review. Sport Sciences for Health, 17(1), 21–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00685-9
[10]Enright, P. L., & Sherrill, D. L. (1998). Reference Equations for the Six-Minute Walk in Healthy Adults. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 158(5), 1384–1387. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.158.5.9710086
[11]Fu, Q., & Levine, B. D. (2013). Exercise and the autonomic nervous system. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 147–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-53491-0.00013-4
[12]Hou, S.-I. (2021). Physical Activity and Social Relationships on Social Engagement Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Innovation in Aging, 5(Supplement_1), 28–28. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.099
[13]Kandola, A., Ashdown-Franks, G., Hendrikse, J., et al. (2019). Physical activity and depression: Towards understanding the antidepressant mechanisms of physical activity. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 107, 525–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.040
[14]Li, W., & Quach, L. (2021). Mobility, Physical Activity, and Social Engagement of Community-Living Older Adults. Innovation in Aging, 5(Supplement_1), 27–27. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.096
[15]Liu, R., Menhas, R., Saqib, Z. A. (2024). Does physical activity influence health behavior, mental health, and psychological resilience under the moderating role of quality of life? Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1349880. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1349880
[16]Lourida, I., Hannon, E., Littlejohns, T. J., et al. (2019). Association of Lifestyle and Genetic Risk With Incidence of Dementia. JAMA, 322(5), 430. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.9879
[17]Matta Mello Portugal, E., Cevada, T., Sobral Monteiro-Junior, R., et al. (2013). Neuroscience of Exercise: From Neurobiology Mechanisms to Mental Health. Neuropsychobiology, 68(1), 1–14. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1159/000350946
[18]Menhas, R., Dai, J., Ashraf, M. A., et al. (2021). Physical Inactivity, Non-Communicable Diseases and National Fitness Plan of China for Physical Activity. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, Volume 14, 2319–2331. https://doi.org/10.2147/rmhp.s258660
[19]Menhas, R., Yang, L., & Danish Nisar, R. (2023). Community-based social healthcare practices in China for healthy aging: a social prescription perspective analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1252157. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1252157
[20]Moore, R. C., Eyler, L. T., Mausbach, B. T., et al. (2015). Complex Interplay Between Health and Successful Aging: Role of Perceived Stress, Resilience, and Social Support. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(6), 622–632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2014.08.004
[21]Navarro, J. L., & Tudge, J. R. H. (2023). Technologizing Bronfenbrenner: Neo-ecological Theory. Current Psychology, 42(22), 19338-19354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02738-3
[22]Peeters, P., & Mets, T. (1996). The 6-Minute Walk as an Appropriate Exercise Test in Elderly Patients With Chronic Heart Failure. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 51A(4), M147–M151. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/51a.4.m147
[23]Pickersgill, J. W., Turco, C. V., Ramdeo, K., et al. (2022). The Combined Influences of Exercise, Diet and Sleep on Neuroplasticity. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.831819
[24]Portegijs, E., Lee, C., & Zhu, X. (2023). Activity-friendly environments for active aging: The physical, social, and technology environments. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1080148
[25]Ribeiro, A. Q., Salgado, S. M. L., Gomes, I. S., et al. (2016). Prevalence and factors associated with physical inactivity among the elderly: a population-based study. Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia, 19(3), 483–493. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-98232016019.150047
[26]Rodrigues, A. R. M., de Leitão, N. M. A., Cavalcante, A. E. S., et al. (2016). Autonomy in activities of daily living: Evaluation of elderly people practicing physical exercise (Portuguese). Revista Kairós-Gerontologia, 19(2), 279-293. https://doi.org/10.23925/2176-901X.2016V19I2P279-293
[27]Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful Aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433–440. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/37.4.433
[28]Salmon, P. (2001). Effects of physical exercise on anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to stress: A unifying theory. Clinical Psychology Review, 21(1), 33-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7358(99)00032-X
[29]Salvy, S.-J., Roemmich, J. N., Bowker, J. C., et al. (2008). Effect of Peers and Friends on Youth Physical Activity and Motivation to be Physically Active. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34(2), 217–225. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsn071
[30]Schlenk, E. A., Sereika, S. M., Martire, L. M., et al. (2021). Older adults’ social network and support and its association with physical activity. Geriatric Nursing, 42(2), 517–523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.09.006
[31]Shimura, A., Masuya, J., Yokoi, K., et al. (2023). Too much is too little: Estimating the optimal physical activity level for a healthy mental state. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1044988. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1044988
[32]Shin, H., & Park, C. (2022). Social support and psychological well-being in younger and older adults: The mediating effects of basic psychological need satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1051968
[33]Siedlecki, K. L., Salthouse, T. A., Oishi, S., et al. (2013). The Relationship Between Social Support and Subjective Well-Being Across Age. Social Indicators Research, 117(2), 561–576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0361-4
[34]Silva, N., Brasil, C., Furtado, H., et al. (2014). Exercício físico e envelhecimento: benefícios à saúde e características de programas desenvolvidos pelo LABSAU/IEFD/UERJ. Revista Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.12957/rhupe.2014.10129
[35]Spernovasilis, N., Markaki, I., Papadakis, M., et al. (2021). Epidemics and pandemics: Is human overpopulation the elephant in the room? Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 19, 100728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemep.2021.100728
[36]Tan, H. C., Ho, J. A., Kumarusamy, R., et al. (2022). Measuring social desirability bias: Do the full and short versions of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale matter? Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 17(3), 382-400. https://doi.org/10.1177/15562646211046091
[37]Tan, Z., Mun, E.-Y., Nguyen, U.-S. D. T., et al. (2021). Increases in social support co-occur with decreases in depressive symptoms and substance use problems among adults in permanent supportive housing: an 18-month longitudinal study. BMC Psychology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00507-0
[38]Vecchio, L. M., Meng, Y., Xhima, K., et al. (2018). The Neuroprotective Effects of Exercise: Maintaining a Healthy Brain Throughout Aging. Brain Plasticity, 4(1), 17–52. https://doi.org/10.3233/bpl-180069
[39]Wrann, C. D., White, J. P., Salogiannnis, J., et al. (2013). Exercise Induces Hippocampal BDNF through a PGC-1α/FNDC5 Pathway. Cell Metabolism, 18(5), 649–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2013.09.008
[40]Yesavage, J. A., Brink, T. L., Rose, T. L., et al. (1982). Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17(1), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3956(82)90033-4
Copyright (c) 2024 Victor Matheus Lopes Martinez, Sophia Gielow Marrero
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
