Relationship between Psychological Distress and Prolonged Sedentary Bouts in the Elderly: Four Period Analysis.

Yutaka Owari

doi:10.3390/healthcare9060676

Abstract

Background: Too much sitting is associated with low mental health in elderly individuals. We clarified the relationship between psychological distress and the rate of prolonged sedentary bouts (PSBs) among the elderly over four periods. Methods: In a secondary analysis, a sample population of 68 adults aged 65 years or older in Japan was used. The following proxy variables were used: PSB (mental health) and the Kessler 6 scale; K6 scores (psychological distress). Results: Using the cross-lagged effects models, from “2016 K6” to “2017 PSB” (p = 0.004), from “2017 K6” to “2018 PSB” (p < 0.001), and from “2018 K6” to “2019 PSB” (p = 0.021) were all significant; however, the reverse were not all significant in one period. In four periods, from “2016 PSB” to “2019 K6” (p = 0.025) was significant; however, the reverse was not significant. Fit indices were obtained: χ2 = 7.641 (p = 0.182), goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.891, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.901, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.121 in structural equation modelling. Conclusions: Psychological distress may affect the rate of PSB after one year, and the rate of PSB may affect the rate of psychological distress after three years in elderly individuals.

Highlights

Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior (SB) are major risk factors to chronic illness and obesity, which cause premature death and are socially and economically burdensome.Regular physical activity (PA) is clearly recognized for its protective effect against non-communicable diseases, which are associated with lower mortality and improved quality of life and are therapeutically effective for many chronic diseases
Psychological distress may affect the rate of prolonged sedentary bouts (PSBs) after one year, and the rate of PSB may affect the rate of psychological distress after three years in elderly individuals
Excessive sitting is associated with low mental health in the elderly population and has been shown to be associated with decreased cognitive function [1], the risk of developing dementia [2], and reduced health-related quality of life [3]

Summary

Introduction

Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior (SB) are major risk factors to chronic illness and obesity, which cause premature death and are socially and economically burdensome.Regular physical activity (PA) is clearly recognized for its protective effect against non-communicable diseases, which are associated with lower mortality and improved quality of life and are therapeutically effective for many chronic diseases. Excessive sitting is associated with low mental health in the elderly population and has been shown to be associated with decreased cognitive function [1], the risk of developing dementia [2], and reduced health-related quality of life [3]. The population aged 65 or older is 28.1% [4]. Maintaining the health of the elderly is important and applies to other countries with a rapidly growing aging population. Too much sitting is associated with low mental health in elderly individuals. We clarified the relationship between psychological distress and the rate of prolonged sedentary bouts (PSBs) among the elderly over four periods. The following proxy variables were used: PSB (mental health) and the Kessler 6 scale; K6 scores (psychological distress).

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion