1. The effects of a physical activity programme on the psychological wellbeing of older people in a residential care facility: an experimental study
- Author
-
Emanuela Rabaglietti, Monica Emma Liubicich, and Silvia Ciairano
- Subjects
Gerontology ,physical activity ,older people ,health and self-perception ,residential care ,daily functioning ,Health (social science) ,Activities of daily living ,genetic structures ,Social Psychology ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Physical activity ,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous) ,Residential care ,Intervention (counseling) ,Perception ,Physical activity decreased ,Aerobic exercise ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,Older people ,Psychology ,psychological phenomena and processes ,media_common - Abstract
This experimental study aimed to analyse the effects of an aerobic activity intervention delivered by specially trained instructors to a sample of Italian older people living in a residential care facility. We assessed intervention effects on general health perception, perception that one's health represents a limitation for moderate and heavy physical activity, and positive and negative self-perception. The 36-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) was administered at pre-test and post-test to a sample of 22 older people (ten in the control group and 12 in the intervention group) of both genders with an average age of 80.6 years. The findings showed that: (a) the perception that one's health can limit moderate and heavy physical activity decreased significantly in the older people belonging to the intervention group between pre- and post-test, while it increased in the control group; (b) positive self-perception was found to be stable in the intervention group, while it decreased in the control group; and (c) there was no interaction between group and time with respect to both general health perception and negative self-perception. The exercise programme seemed to have a particularly positive effect on older people's beliefs about their ability to master successfully the activities of daily living such as walking and moving objects. more...
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF