Physical Activity and Quality of Life Across a 4-year Period in Older Adults

Abstract

2066 With advancing age, there is an increased susceptibility to chronic diseases and functional disability, resulting in compromised well-being and reduced quality of life (QOL). Physical activity (PA) has been effective in attenuating functional decline and enhancing QOL of older adults. Few studies have examined the PA-QOL relationship in older adults using longitudinal data and an established model of QOL. PURPOSE: Based on the Stewart and King (1991) model of QOL for PA, the relationships among changes in PA, intermediate QOL outcomes (e.g., social support & well-being), and overall QOL (satisfaction with life; SWL) across a 4-year period in older adults were examined. METHODS: Participants (N: = 174, M age = 66.7 yrs) completed a graded exercise test and a battery of psychosocial measures 12 and 60 months after enrolling in a 6-month randomized controlled exercise trial. RESULTS: Panel analysis was conducted within a covariance modeling framework for testing a model that included (1) direct effects of PA on social support, esteem, affect, oxygen uptake, and SWL; and (2) direct effects of social support, esteem, affect, and oxygen uptake on SWL across both time points. The fit of the model was excellent, χ2(25) = 29.10, p = 0.26. With the 12 month assessment, PA had direct effects on affect (ß = 0.18) and oxygen uptake (ß = 0.27), and esteem (ß = 0.18) and affect (ß = 0.52) had direct effects on SWL. With the 60 month assessment, change in PA had direct effects on residual changes in social support (ß = 0.13), esteem (ß = 0.20), and affect (ß = 0.19), but only change in affect (ß = 0.54) had a direct effect on residual change in SWL. CONCLUSIONS: Over time, physical activity effects on QOL in older adults appear to be mediated largely by changes in the affective aspects of well-being, supporting the position that intermediate outcomes associated with PA underlie global QOL. Funded by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (AG12113)