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 |
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Sprache: | Englisch |
Veröffentlicht: |
2012 |
Quelle: | Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
Online Zugang: |
http://www.ijpvmjournal.net/article.asp?issn=2008-7802;year=2012;volume=3;issue=13;spage=64;epage=72;aulast=Mortazavi https://doaj.org/toc/2008-7802 https://doaj.org/toc/2008-8213 2008-7802 2008-8213 https://doaj.org/article/00e518ac2d164300ab87a36df79dbd82 https://doaj.org/article/00e518ac2d164300ab87a36df79dbd82 |
Erfassungsnummer: | ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:00e518ac2d164300ab87a36df79dbd82 |
Zusammenfassung
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.