Relationship between physical performance and mental health in community-living elderly people

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Aging is a sensitive period in human life, in which people are at increased risk of developing chronic illness, isolation, and lack of social protection and their autonomy is threatened due to their physical and mental disabilities. Widespread lockdown and preventative measures have made elderly individuals homebound and experienced limited access to physical performance and mental health care. Mental health problems in the elderly are the result of a complex interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between physical performance and mental health (stress, anxiety, and depression) in community-living elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Physical performance was assessed by physical performance test (PPT) and mental health was assessed by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Spearman’s rank correlation test was used to find the relationship between variables. RESULTS: Twenty-eight urban and semi-urban community-living elderly people participated in this study. A statistically significant negative correlation was found (1) between PPT and anxiety (r = −0.386, P = 0.042) and (2) between PPT and depression (r = −0.376 and P = 0.045). There was also a weak negative correlation between PPT and stress level (r = −0.243 and P = 0.212), but the same was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that individuals with higher physical performance have less anxiety and depression symptoms among community-living elderly people.