Abstract
Studies about the influence of physical activity on life satisfaction, functional ability and subjective well-being in physically active older adults without cognitive impairment are very few for the moment. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the life satisfaction, functional skills and subjective well-being of physically active older adults based on the level of activity practiced. The IPAQ (International Physical Activity), CUBRECAVI and LSIA (Life Satisfaction Index) scales were tested for a sample of 397 Spanish older adults between 61 and 93 years of age (M = 69.65; SD = 4.71). The results showed that those who performed high physical activity obtained higher scores in functional skills (p < 0.01) and in the activities of daily living (p < 0.01). In addition, subjective well-being (p < 0.01) and the functional autonomy of older adults (p < 0.01) were related to the level of physical activity that they practiced. In conclusion, it could be said that the older adults with a high level of physical activity have more functional skills and less difficulties performing the activities of daily living, and that they value their autonomy and health better.
Highlights
The 2018–2020 Active and Healthy Aging Program of the European Commission [1] emphasizes the need to implement policies that promote changes in the state of health and that show how to deal with chronic diseases in Europe
The results showed that the life-satisfaction scores of the participants who a high level of physical activity (23.16) were higher than those obtained by the participants who performed a moderate level (21.80) or low level (21.29) of physical activity; these differences, close, were not statistically significant (F(2394) = 2977, p = 0.052, η2 = 0.015) (Table 1)
In this study, functional ability was determined to be greater in those people who engaged in high physical activity compared to those who participated in moderate activity
Summary
The 2018–2020 Active and Healthy Aging Program of the European Commission [1] emphasizes the need to implement policies that promote changes in the state of health and that show how to deal with chronic diseases in Europe. In order to achieve this, this Program points out that studies on the quality of life of the population of the European Union (EU) need to be carried out, as well as improvements in the provision of health-related services. The World Health Organization (WHO), in its Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030 [2], considers that people should remain active if they want to improve their present and future physical conditions. International and national organizations associate physical exercise with health, especially in the situation of progressive aging that Europe has been facing for decades.
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