EFFECT OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF GERIATRICS LIVING IN TURKEY ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, DEPRESSION, AND QUALITY OF LIFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Objective: The quarantine precautions implemented during the new type of coronavirus epidemic caused some changes in the daily lives of geriatric individuals. This study aimed to examine whether living in rural or urban areas affects physical activity, depression, and quality of life (QoL) in Turkish geriatrics during pandemic.
 Method: One hundred three geriatrics were assessed with the videoconferencing method, which was performed once. Participants were divided into two groups according to the area where they lived as rural (n:41) or urban (n:62). In addition, physical activity, presence of depression, and QoL of individuals were assessed with the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Short Form-36 (SF-36), respectively.
 Results: According to the results, PASE (p=0.677), GDS (p=0.742), and all sub-dimensions of SF-36 (p>0.05 for all) except pain (p=0.033) of geriatrics were similar in both groups. Also, while there is a low-level relationship between the GDS scores of those living in rural areas and the sub-dimensions of SF-36 physical function (r=-0.381), mental health (r=-0.381), and social functionality (r=-0.395), there was a moderate correlation between the vitality (r=-0.529) and pain (r=-0.536) sub-dimensions. In addition, a strong correlation was found between GDS and the general health perception sub-dimension of SF-36 (r=-0.611).
 Conclusion: The pandemic-induced quarantine precautions, which were put into effect throughout Turkey, negatively affected the daily life of all people, especially elderly individuals. Because of these precautions, the similarity of daily living activities of the elderly living in rural and urban areas may have caused similar physical activity, depression, and QoL scores.