Author/Authors :
Mortazavi، Seyede Salehe نويسنده Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , , Mohammad، Kazem نويسنده , , Eftekhar Ardebili، Hassan نويسنده Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Center for Community?Based Pa , , Dorali Beni، Reza نويسنده General Practitioner, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , , Mahmoodi، Maryam نويسنده Physics Department, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Fars, Iran , , Hassanzadeh Keshteli، Ammar نويسنده Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Psychosomatic Research Center, Isfahan University ,
Abstract :
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.
