Mental disorder prevention and physical activity in Iranian elderly
| Autor: | Seyede Salehe Mortazavi, Kazem Mohammad, Hassan Eftekhar Ardebili, Reza Dorali Beni, Maryam Mahmoodi, Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2012 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | International Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol 3, Iss 13, Pp 64-72 (2012) |
| Druh dokumentu: | article |
| ISSN: | 2008-7802 2008-8213 |
| Popis: | Objectives: Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and dementia are common in elderly. However, physical activity is suggested to be effective in preventing such aging-related disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of physical activity on mental health in later life. Methods: Four hundred elderly people were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention consisted of exercise twice a week for two months. Mental health status before, just after, and three months after the study was assessed with the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Results: The mean of the GHQ-28 total scale decreased in the case group and this change remained significant after three months (before: 8 ± 5.5, after three months: 5.6 ± 4.6, p < .001). GHQ subscales including somatization, anxiety, social dysfunction, and depression decreased significantly in the case group just after and three months after the intervention. Conclusions: Physical activity significantly prevents mental disorder in older adults. Although it has effects on anxiety, social dysfunction, and depression, the greatest influence is on improving the somatization symptoms. |
| Databáze: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| Externí odkaz: |
|