Dataset Information

The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Adults Survive the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the relationship between the amount and intensity of physical activity performed by older adults in North America (United States and Canada) and their depression and anxiety symptoms while currently under social distancing guidelines (SDG) for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Setting

Online survey conducted between April 9 and April 30, 2020, during the COVD-19 pandemic.

Participants

About 1,046 older adults over the age of 50 who live in North America.

Measurements

Participants were asked about their basic demographic information, current health status, and the impact of the current SDG on their subjective state of mental health. Participants completed the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, to determine the amount and intensity of physical activity performed, as well as both the Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Scale, to ascertain the extent of their depression and anxiety-like symptoms.

Results

Ninety-seven percent of participants indicated that they adhered to current SDG "Most of the time" or "Strictly." Participants who performed greater levels of physical activity experienced lower levels of depression-like symptoms when age, sex, and education were accounted for; however, no relationship between physical activity and anxiety-like symptoms was found. A hierarchical regression analysis that incorporated the intensity of physical activity performed (light, moderate, and vigorous) in the model indicated that greater light and strenuous activity, but not moderate, predicted lower depression-like symptoms.

Conclusions

These results suggest that performing even light physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic may help alleviate some of the negative mental health impacts that older adults may be experiencing while isolated and adhering to SDG during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUBMITTER: Callow DD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7831892 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Adults Survive the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Callow Daniel D DD Arnold-Nedimala Naomi A NA Jordan Leslie S LS Pena Gabriel S GS Won Junyeon J Woodard John L JL Smith J Carson JC

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 20200630 10

<h4>Objective</h4>To determine the relationship between the amount and intensity of physical activity performed by older adults in North America (United States and Canada) and their depression and anxiety symptoms while currently under social distancing guidelines (SDG) for the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Design</h4>Descriptive cross-sectional study.<h4>Setting</h4>Online survey conducted between April 9 and April 30, 2020, during the COVD-19 pandemic.<h4>Participants</h4>About 1,046 older adults over ...[more]

PMID: 32713754

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background/objectivesDifferences in older adults' worry, attitudes, and mental health between high-income countries with diverging pandemic responses are largely unknown. We compared COVID-19 worry, attitudes towards governmental responses, and self-reported mental health symptoms among adults aged ≥55 in the United States and Canada early in the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignOnline cross-sectional survey administered between April 2nd and May 31st in the United States and between May 1st and June 30th, 2020 in Canada.SettingNationally in the United States and Canada.ParticipantsConvenience sample of older adults aged ≥55.MeasurementsLikert-type scales measured COVID-19 worry and attitudes towards government support. Three standardized scales assessed mental health symptoms: the eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the five-item Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the three-item UCLA loneliness scale.ResultsThere were 4453 U.S. respondents (71.7% women; mean age 67.5) and 1549 Canadian (67.6% women; mean age 69.3). More U.S. respondents (71%) were moderately or extremely worried about the pandemic, compared to 52% in Canada. Just 20% of U.S. respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the federal government cared about older adults in their COVID-19 pandemic response, compared to nearly two-thirds of Canadians (63%). U.S. respondents were more likely to report elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to Canadians; 34.2% (32.8-35.6) versus 25.6% (23.3-27.8) for depressive and 30.8% (29.5-32.2) versus 23.7% (21.6-25.9) for anxiety symptoms. The proportion of United States and Canadian respondents who reported loneliness was similar. A greater proportion of women compared to men reported symptoms of depression and anxiety across all age groups in both countries.ConclusionU.S. older adults felt less supported by their federal government and had elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to older adults in Canada during early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health messaging from governments should be clear, consistent, and incorporate support for mental health.

Dataset Information

The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Adults Survive the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Measurements

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Adults Survive the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Similar Datasets

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